What Is Paprika Powder?

If you were to peruse your spice rack right now, chances are you’d stumble upon a container of bright red dust. Should you add it to a container of blue dust to get a container of purple dust? No, don’t do that, because that red dust is perfect on its own, my friend. That’s paprika, and it’s exactly what we’ll be discussing today! 

Let’s delve into the rich, crimson history of paprika powder. Onward and upward, my paprika freakas! 

What is paprika?

Paprika is, essentially, red pepper powder. It’s a seasoning powder characterized by its vibrant red color and it comes in a wide spectrum of heat levels. There’s sweet paprika (not spicy), hot paprika (spicy), smoked paprika (smoky), Hungarian paprika (which encapsulates paprika powders of varying heat levels), and Spanish paprika (the smokiest). 

What is paprika made of?

Paprika is made from the fruit pods of chili pepper—specifically, it’s made from the dried and ground fruit pods of Capsicum annum, if you want to get all Latin about it. Capsicum annum is a red pepper family that includes species like bell peppers and chili peppers. 

Is paprika spicy?

Paprika can range widely from mild to hot, depending on the type of paprika you’re using. The red hue can certainly trick the mind into associating it with spiciness, but be sure to check beforehand to see what you’re getting yourself into, heat-wise! Sweet paprika is the most mild, so if you’re not into spice, that’ll be the paprika for you. 

Is paprika a mixture?

While paprika isn’t a spice mix—it isn’t a mix of other powdered spices—paprika is a mixture of dried, ground peppers, including hot chili peppers, cayenne peppers, poblano peppers, aleppo peppers, and sweet peppers. It’s a dang pepper party.

Where does paprika come from?

Paprika peppers are native to tropical areas of the Western Hemisphere, including Mexico, Central America, South America, and the West Indies. 

What is paprika used for?

Paprika is extremely versatile. You can include in barbecue sauces, rubs, marinades, sausages, casseroles, cream sauces, and egg dishes (deviled eggs, anyone?). On researching the subject, I even found that some folks love it sprinkled on mac and cheese! Of course, the most classic dish made with paprika is Hungarian paprikash, a meaty stew seasoned with paprika. 

What is sweet paprika?

Sweet paprika is the most common of the paprika types. Chances are, when you see “paprika” in a recipe, this is the one they’re talking about! It is typically made from a combination of mild dried red peppers. It’s not actually sweet. In this case, “sweet” means “not spicy.” 

Fill that space on your spice rack with pride, my friends, for paprika will get you out of many a culinary jam when you most need it. Ooo, paprika jam…now THAT’s something we’d like to try! 


About the Author

Joe Rumrill

Joe Rumrill is a fictional one-eyed spinach-loving sailor created in 1929 by E.C Se- Wait, no, that's not right... Joe Rumrill is a stand up comedian and writer currently based in Los Angeles. His favorite thing about food is a close tie between the taste and the nutrients one gets from it. His least favorite thing about it is the "gritty, dirt-like quality some food has", but he's most likely referring to the time in third grade he was dared to eat playground sand.

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