Sanshoku Dango (dumplings of three colors)

Sanshoku Dango : 三色団子

All this time I have been introducing you to cookies, chocolate bars, and other Western snacks, but today I will introduce you to Japanese sweets.

Spring is coming soon in Japan. Sanshoku Dango (meaning dumplings of three colors) is a food that is unique to spring.
You also know this emoji🍡

Sanshoku Dango is also called Hanami Dango. Hanami is a springtime leisure activity unique to Japan, where people enjoy bento lunches and sake while looking at cherry blossoms. The dumplings are the perfect sweets for this occasion.

Looks

Isn't it a beautiful spring-like coloring?
The colors have a meaning, according to one theory.

• Green represents young buds about to blossom.
• White represents snow remaining in early spring. 
• And pink represents the color of cherry blossoms. The symbol of spring in Japan is, above all, the cherry blossom. 

In Japan, we often sense the change of seasons from natural plants and creatures, and copy them onto food and other items.
The best example of this is jonama-gashi. Jonama-gashi is a beautiful Japanese sweet that uses traditional techniques to represent seasonal customs.

I think this kind of Japanese sensibility is one of the things that Japan can be proud of.

With that out of the way, let's get back to the Sanshoku Dango.

Feature

Sanshoku Dango comes in three different colors, but they all taste basically the same. They are only  changed by the coloring.

There is nothing inside. Occasionally, there are dumplings with anko (red bean paste) inside, but these are very rare examples.

Sanshoku Dango is very similar to the Japanese sweets called Suama. Both are sweets that have the sweet taste of rice flour and sugar kneaded together. They are simple pastries with just a hint of sweetness.
I like their elegant sweetness, but if you eat them with a craving for something sweet like anko or matcha sweets you may be disappointed by their light taste.

Dumplings sold in retail packages are about this size, but dumplings sold individually in Japanese sweets shops are often much smaller. Therefore,  dumplings is four to five grains per skewer.

Dumplings stretch, though not as much as rice cakes. This sticky texture is one of the flavors of dumplings.

I have heard that many people do not like red bean paste. One of the Japanese sweets that can be recommended to such people is dumplings. Sanshoku Dango is especially recommended because of its simplicity. 

Give it a try! yum yum😋

Sanshoku Dango's official website : https://www.yamazakipan.co.jp/product/03/kushidango.html
Amazon.co.jp : https://amzn.asia/d/9hDcgl2