The control pods turn gray no matter what you do. I don’t know how Honda tinted them at the factory, but it’s not paint or anodization.
I do know that a little light oil applied to it seems to seep in and turns it back to black with no apparent residue on the surface. I’m thinking they were originally oil impregnated or something.
If you can find some Plastilube with moly then that may turn the plastic a nice black. Just rub it in a bit and wipe it off.