dango are super cute Japanese sweets made by shaping rice cakes into adorable little balls 🍡✨. If you’ve ever had mochi ice cream, just imagine that chewy “mochi” part—that’s what makes up these delicious treats! If you’re a gamer, you might have even spotted them in Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Nintendo Switch 🎮✨. The dango in that game look so real, don’t they?
The Secrets of Sanshoku Dango 🌸🤍🌿
There are many types of dango, but this colorful one, which is even a emoji “🍡,” is called Sanshoku Dango (meaning “three-color dango”). It has a history of over 400 years, so it’s a truly classic treat!
While there are various theories about the colors’ origins, one popular belief is that this cute three-color combination represents spring 🌸:
Pink: It’s said to symbolize cherry blossoms 🌸.
White: This color represents Shirozake, a sweet rice wine traditionally drunk during Japanese festivals and celebrations 🍶.
Green: It symbolizes yomogi, a type of mugwort with a strong green color 🌿.
You might think each color has a different flavor, but actually, they all taste the same! However, finding these specific dango can sometimes be a little tricky. I usually find them in the Japanese sweets section of a large supermarket
My Fave: Mitarashi Dango ✨
By the way, my absolute favorite type of dango is Mitarashi Dango! These are white, chewy dango balls covered in a sweet and salty soy-sauce-based glaze that is just so unbelievably delicious 😋!
The best part is, you can easily buy them at any Japanese convenience store! So if you ever come to Japan, you should definitely give them a try ✨!
