With the preparations for Christmas and New Years winding down - assuming you haven't left them to the last minute, the next big holiday/festive season would be Chinese New Year. What better way to celebrate and promote the Year of the Rooster than that iconic piece of Chinese inspired cuisine, the Fortune Cookie? A simple but tasty confection with a slip of amusing - often for the wrong reasons - information inside. What's not to love? Well assuming you're not the type to get annoyed when people mistakenly say that Fortune Cookies are Chinese that is. Not Chinese?! I hear you gasp in disbelief. That's right, in the long and storied history of China, at no point was the fortune cookie invented there. As much as we'd like to say that the Emperors of yore had it as a post dinner snack, or that it was the crowning achievement of the Ming Dynasty - along with some damn fine pottery, it's actually not Chinese.

1. Fortune cookies boost brand recognition.
2. Customised cookies engage customers.
3. Fortune cookies symbolize good luck.

Fortune Cookie Origins

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the fortune cookie as we know it was invented in America. While a Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles claimed to have invented it in 1918, another story has Japanese Americans in San Francisco creating them in the late 1890's, early 1900's. Inspired by traditional Japanese crackers with fortune slips inside, they were served as Japanese Fortune Tea Cakes, although it was made from different ingredients, darker in shade, different in size, and had the fortune wedged into the curve of the cookie rather than being baked inside the hollow shell of it.

Over time, the design changed, it was sold at Chinese Restaurants, new methods of mass producing it were invented, and what was normally made and sold by Japanese Americans was now done by Chinese Americans. They became so popular and commonplace that Fortune Cookies became intrinsically linked with Chinese cuisine in America, and then into the rest of the world. Rather amusingly they're quite popular in Western nations but not in China where it remains a novelty rather than a staple.

Still, while it's not historically Chinese, it is part of the Chinese diaspora, and even if it wasn't invented by Chinese people, it was popularised by them. I'd say that still counts.

Custom Fortune Cookie Benefits

Promotional fortune cookies can be used as a unique and memorable promotional product for businesses. Here are some reasons why:

• Branding: Fortune cookies can be branded with a company logo or message, increasing brand recognition and awareness.
• Engagement: Fortune cookies are a fun and engaging way to interact with customers, as they are encouraged to crack open the cookie to reveal their fortune.
• Versatility: Fortune cookies can be used in a variety of settings, including corporate events, trade shows, and customer appreciation events.
• Cost-effectiveness: Fortune cookies are a cost-effective promotional product that can be purchased in bulk at a reasonable price.
• Customisation: Fortune cookies can be customized with personalized messages or fortunes, making them a unique and memorable promotional item for businesses.

Role in Chinese New Year

Fortune cookies are a popular item during Chinese New Year celebrations. Here are some interesting facts about fortune cookies and their role in the festivities:

• Symbolism: Fortune cookies are a symbol of good luck and prosperity, which is a common theme during Chinese New Year celebrations.
• Tradition: Fortune-telling is a popular practice during Chinese New Year, and fortune cookies are a modern interpretation of this tradition.
• Gift-giving: Fortune cookies are often given as gifts during Chinese New Year celebrations, as they are seen as a thoughtful and unique present.
• Personalisation: Fortune cookies can be customized with personalized messages or fortunes, making them a thoughtful and unique gift for the recipient.
• Promotion: Fortune cookies can be used as a promotional item during Chinese New Year celebrations, as they are a popular item that can be customized with a company logo or message.

Summary

Fortune cookies are a unique and memorable promotional product that can be customized with personalized messages or branding. They are a popular item during Chinese New Year celebrations and can be used as a promotional item during the festivities. Incorporating fortune cookies into a promotional campaign can be a fun and engaging way to promote a business while also paying homage to Chinese culture.

Seen on: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/dining/16fort.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all