Japanese Food - Hanami Dango

The Japanese have long celebrated and admired the beauty of cherry blossoms by holding parties beneath them in the warm spring weather. At the parties and during cherry blossom season, some spring themed foods including "hanami dango" are enjoyed.

"Hanami" means flower viewing, mainly of cherry blossoms, and "dango" means dumplings. "Hanami dango" are traditional Japanese confectioneries made from rice flour. Three different dumplings in pink, white and green (top to bottom in this order) are skewered on a stick.

Why are the dumplings colored like this and skewered in this order?

There are several theories about this. One of them is that the "hanami dango" symbolizes the joy of spring that has long been awaited. The green dumpling represents shoots and buds that lie far beneath the bitter snows (the white dumpling). In the spring the snows melt and flowers (the pink dumpling) bloom.

Japanese sweets have been developed to be enjoyed during the beautiful four seasons since ancient times. Please savor the spring in Japan not only by appreciating cherry blossoms but also by enjoying "hanami dango".