Okinawa black sugar is less refined than brown sugar and has a rich, smoky, malty flavor. It's made by slowly cooking sugarcane juice for hours until it turns into a black syrup, which is then left to harden into dry sugar. Because the molasses isn't removed, it contains more minerals and nutrients than regular white sugar, including potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, and vitamins B1, B2, and B6. Some say it has health benefits like increasing energy, relieving stress, and potentially lowering blood sugar levels.