Black cocoa has a deep, rich, and slightly bittersweet flavor, more intense than regular cocoa. It’s often described as having a smooth, almost smoky, or earthy taste without the natural acidity found in traditional cocoa. Because it's heavily alkalized (also known as Dutch-processed), it has a much darker color and a more muted chocolate flavor, similar to the taste of Oreo cookies. It’s not sweet at all, so it's typically used in baked goods where sugar and other ingredients balance its intensity.