🍱 Han-Ge Dango

Otoyo Town is located in the center of the Shikoku mountain range, about 40 km from Kochi City, the prefectural capital. The town was called Toyonaga-go in ancient times, and is a key transportation hub connecting the north and south since ancient times. The "Han-Ge Dango" (mid summer dumplings) is a local sweet that has been handed down from generation to generation in this town. The name "Han-Ge" refers to July 2nd. And is eaten to celebrate the end of the busy farming season, or at the end of the planting season. The dumplings are wrapped in“ Myoga” leaves, and the unique combination of the“ Myoga” leaves cool aroma and sweetness of the sweet bean paste is said to have soothed the fatigue of the farmers. “Han-Ge dango" was also offered to the god of rice paddies. The use of wheat flour instead of glutinous rice is a remnant of the days when rice was precious. Some people call the sweet dumplings "Myoga -dango" instead because it uses “ Myoga” leaves.