It is a dark, viscous syrup with a more rounded and smoother flavour than molasses. It has a strong, rich flavour that is comparable to bitter-sweet molasses but slightly more rounded.

Due to its intense flavour, dark colour and bitter-sweet taste, black treacle is usually found in baked goods such as Christmas puddings, fruit cakes, parkin and gingerbread, as well as liquorice sweets and treacle toffee.

It is also deployed in savoury applications, helping to form the flavour of smoky marinades for meat or fish.

Black treacle is used by brewers, especially when producing mild ales.

The high molasses content of black treacle means it contains nutrients and minerals including: Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Sulphur, and Vitamin B6.