For example, bell peppers, which are a type of chili pepper, are known for their sweet flavor and are not spicy at all. On the other end of the spectrum, peppers like the Carolina Reaper and Trinidad Moruga Scorpion are among the hottest chili peppers in the world, with extremely high levels of capsaicin and intense spiciness.

The process of making paprika from bell peppers involves carefully selecting ripe, red peppers, then drying them to remove the moisture content. Once dried, the peppers are ground into a fine powder, resulting in the characteristic bright red spice known as paprika.

Having said this, something as beneficial as capsaicin does not come without any trade-offs. Producing capsaicin takes a lot of energy, which is why some peppers are not spicy. In some cases it makes more sense to make a lot of fruit with less or no capsaicin, thus producing more seed, and getting offspring by overwhelming predators and plagues by sheer volume.

Applications:

While the smoked variant is the responsible ingredient for the smoky flavor in many recipes, sweet paprika gives your dishes a fruity, sweet and slightly bitter flavor with very little to no heat at all. If you happen to spot the usual bottle that just says paprika, that’s most likely the regular or sweet variant.

Paprika is a versatile spice derived from dried and ground red bell peppers or chili peppers. It comes in various forms, including sweet, smoked, and hot. Paprika is cherished for its vibrant color and ability to infuse dishes with a rich, earthy flavor and a hint of sweetness.

On the other hand, higher concentrations of oleoresin Capsicum are used in the production of pepper sprays and self-defense products. These formulations are designed to deliver a potent and intense level of spiciness, causing irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory system when used for self-defense purposes.

The type of pepper used, where it comes from and how it’s prepared, determines how paprika tastes. Although there are many different varieties, it’s often divided into three categories, sweet paprika, hot paprika and smoked paprika.

The price of paprika per kilogram in China is influenced by various factors, such as the quality of the peppers used, the processing methods, and the supply and demand in the market. Some regions in China are known for producing high-quality paprika, which can fetch a higher price per kilogram compared to lower quality varieties.

Why We Love It: If you love a hot sauce with considerable heat but don’t want to sacrifice flavor, this one’s for you. With a blend of habanero and ghost peppers along with tomato paste, garlic, and a few of our favorite seasonings, this hot sauce packs enough heat to hold its own in chilis, soups, gumbos, and more. 

Another option is to use a spice blend or a spice rub because these may contain large amounts of paprika. Cajun and Creole seasonings, for example, are mainly paprika along with garlic, thyme, salt, pepper, and cayenne, so you could certainly substitute one for the other. Similarly, Old Bay seasoning is mainly celery salt and paprika. As in the cases above, go with a 1:1 ratio.

Origins

Hot sauces are a tasteful balance of flavors. It’s defined as a spicy and flavorful blend of different kinds of peppers and chilis, tomatoes, onions, vinegar, sugar, salt, and spices. It’s this mix of ingredients that creates a sauce that is not just going to activate your taste buds. It will have notes of fruitiness, sweetness from the sugar, a hint of warmth from the ground cumin or bitterness from the green bell peppers, and it might even have a touch of heat from the Sichuan peppercorns or the cayenne pepper that attacks the back of your throat, making you cough. It will also have a tangy flavor courtesy of the vinegar.