Syrup
Black Treacle
S tier
Black treacle is the British refinery dark syrup: almost black, bitter-sweet, liquorice-caramel, the soul of parkin, Christmas pudding, and sticky toffee adjacent bakes. It is closer to a refined dark molasses than to golden syrup. The tin is the point—Lyle's and its peers. Warm it to weigh. A little goes through ginger and stout. Substituting American blackstrap one-for-one can be harsher; dark molasses is nearer. This is not golden syrup dyed brown.
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History
Abram Lyle packed golden syrup; black treacle remained the dark refinery sibling in British pantries.
Christmas pudding and gingerbread recipes fixed black treacle as the dark spoon.
The tin of black treacle was a Bonfire Night and Christmas fixture.
Export tins taught American bakers that black treacle is not generic molasses.