The flavor of black garlic is milder than conventional garlic. It is slightly sweet, slightly acidic, and very umami, with light hints of balsamic vinegar. It offers an umami flavor with a lot of depth. The strong and spicy flavor of fresh garlic disappears, and black garlic does not leave an aftertaste.

Umami is the fifth basic taste. Scientists identified umami taste receptors on the human tongue in 2002, along with sweet, sour, bitter, and salty taste buds. This means that umami is a flavor that is universally enjoyed. Umami is a word in Japanese that means “essence of deliciousness.”