Hanami dango

Hanami dango are sweet mochi rice dumplings on a skewer, and each of them has a different color – pink is used to symbolize cherry blossoms, white represents the remaining snow of the past winter, and green is used as a herald of spring, representing the color of young grass. The dessert is named after a popular Japanese tradition of hanami, meaning flower viewing. It is believed that the practice dates back to the Nara Period (710-794) or Heian Period (794-1185), and nowadays it typically takes place in late March in Kyushu or mid-May in Hokkaido. It is recommended to serve hanami dango with green tea on the side.