Black garlic is a type of aged garlic that is made by heating whole bulbs of garlic over the course of several weeks, a process that results in black cloves. The taste is sweet and syrupy with hints of balsamic vinegar or tamarind. Cooking Tips from Bon Appétit: Use the cloves as you would roasted garlic: Pure them with oil, then smear the paste on crostini, incorporate it into dressings, or rub it onto chicken or fish before roasting. Powdered, it's like umami fairy dust: Sprinkle it on anything that wants some earthiness and depth.