Paprika and bell pepper both belong to the Capsicum annuum species, but they have different origins and varieties.

As you’ve undoubtedly seen, we’ve returned, friends, to the mystical realm of Chinese condiments—i.e. SAUCE. Now that we’ve conquered the elusive Homemade Chili Oil and Ginger Scallion Oil (I believe the terms “elixir of life” and “condiment of the gods” were bandied about by some…), we can move on to more complicated and lesser known sauces. One such concoction is Chiu Chow sauce, which, in a nutshell, is chili oil gone hog wild. Those folks in Chiu Chow China really know what they’re doing!

Yes, it will change the overall texture and appearance of your final dish or sauce. But, when it comes to heat and flavor profile, red pepper flakes are the closest to Hungarian or spicy paprika.

Sweet paprika is made from mild peppers and has a sweet and fruity flavor. It is often used in Mediterranean and Eastern European cuisine, where it is used to flavor stews, soups, and meat dishes. Sweet paprika is also used as a garnish on deviled eggs, potato salads, and other dishes.

Think of capsaicin as a powerful defence mechanism plants have developed to survive. The key about capsaicin is that it does not affect all species of animals or fungi. This is a brilliant evolutionary development that makes the existence of capsaicin twice as beneficial to the plant.