I have tried on more than one occasion to make the smokey black beans using smoke flavorings without any success. The contrast between hot-spicy and sweet seemed to elude me. However, about a week ago as I was eating take-out from Pollo Loco, I saw a part of a jalapeno pepper. Suddenly, it occurred to me that they must use Chipolte chiles. Chipotle is a smoked jalepeno pepper that one can obtain from any market or store that carries Mexcian products. They are packaged in a can with an adobo sauce, so I'm not sure if the adobo sauce will make any difference in the taste, although one could rinse away the sauce with cold tap water. Also, I think the sweet part could be achieved with either corn syrup or a simple sugar base one could make easily. I hope I helped. Again, I haven't tried this as yet, but I definitely know there are chipotle chiles in there which is why the Liquid Smoke doesn't achieve the same taste.

Josette