How to Eat Dango

Step 1

Buy fresh dango from convenience stores, street vendors, and at festivals. Dango is one of the more popular treats you’ll find in Japan, and you can enjoy it all year long. Look for a vendor who is making the dango right in front of you for the freshest variety.You’ll usually get 3-5 dango on a skewer. Because you don’t need any utensils to eat them, they make a great on-the-go snack as you’re traveling.

Step 2

Enjoy dango while it’s still warm for the best flavor. Don’t wait to eat your dango until you’ve gotten back to your hotel room—start enjoying it right away for the optimal flavor and experience. As the dango cools down, it gets chewier and chewier.Each dango is usually pretty small, so don’t worry about ruining your appetite if you buy a skewer close to dinner.

Step 3

Hold the end of the skewer and bite the dango right off. Avoid pulling the dango off with your fingers and eating it by hand—the skewer is meant to help keep your hands clean. Bite through the dango until you feel the skewer with your teeth, then pull off the piece to enjoy it.Try tilting your head back a little as your bite down on the dango.Be careful to not accidentally pierce your mouth with the skewer! If you’re worried about tripping while you’re eating and walking, stop for a few moments on the street to take a bite before moving on.

Step 4

Keep plenty of napkins nearby to wipe your hands and mouth. Depending on what kind of dango you got, there may be a sticky sauce or loose toppings you have to contend with. If you’re walking and eating, stick a few napkins into your pocket or wrap one around the end of the skewer so it’s ready when you need it.Wet wipes may be more effective at cleaning sticky hands than a napkin would be. If you have them with you, use them to wipe down your hands after you finish eating.

Step 5

Pair dango with a fresh cup of green tea for a complete snack. Traditionally, green tea is served with dango for breakfast or an afternoon treat. If you have the opportunity, sit down in a cafe to enjoy a cup of freshly brewed tea along with warm dango.Green tea contains a little bit of caffeine, which can make it a nice pick-me-up in the afternoon.

Step 6

Order mitarashi dango if you’re craving a sweet, salty treat. These dango are covered in a shiny, sticky sauce made from soy sauce and sugar. The sauce is used to glaze the dango, making this one of the stickier varieties you can buy.Even though the sauce is made with sugar, this version of dango still isn’t super sweet. Japanese desserts tend to be much less sweet than what you may think of as a traditional dessert if you’re from the United States or Canada.

Step 7

Get tri-colored bocchan dango to enjoy a variety of different flavors. Though the flavors are subtle, this skewer with a variety of colors is really popular festival food. Green dango is made from matcha powder, red dango from red bean paste, and the yellow dango is colored with eggs.Hanami dango is another three-colored version you will find during the cherry blossom season. These skewers hold, red, green, and white dango and are often covered with a red bean jelly.

Step 8

Eat denpun dango for a potato-flour-based treat that is especially filling. If you’re looking for a snack that is a little more substantial, get denpun dango. Potato flour and sweet beans are mixed together and sometimes even stuffed with red bean paste to create a more dense dessert.This denpun may also be rolled in sesame seeds or dusted with soy powder for a crunchy exterior.