1.
sasa dango; mugwort rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo grass leaves
A traditional Niigata sweet: a sticky-rice dumpling kneaded with 蓬 (mugwort), filled with sweet bean paste, wrapped in 笹 (bamboo grass) leaves and steamed. The leaves give a fresh fragrance and serve as a natural preservative.
新潟の笹団子を買った。
I bought some Niigata sasa dango.
笹団子は蓬の香りがして美味しい。
Sasa dango has a wonderful mugwort aroma and tastes delicious.
笹団子は笹の葉を解いてから食べるのが基本だ。
The basic way to eat sasa dango is to unwrap the bamboo leaves before eating.
A famous regional specialty (名産) of Niigata Prefecture. Said to date back to the Warring States era, when it was carried as a portable, long-lasting food. Today widely sold as a souvenir (お{土産}).
COMPOSITION:
- 笹: bamboo grass (the wrapping)
- 蓬: mugwort (kneaded into the dough)
- {あんこ}: sweet bean paste (the filling)
- The bundle is tied with い{草} or string and steamed.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 柏餅: oak-leaf-wrapped rice cake — eaten at Children's Day, different region
- ちまき: zongzi-style sticky rice — pyramidal, often savory
- 草餅: mugwort rice cake — same flavor as sasa dango but unwrapped