Red pepper flakes are hotter than paprika, so we recommend substituting ⅓ teaspoon of red pepper flakes for every 1 teaspoon of paprika. Add more to taste if you want more heat. 

The quality of the paprika peppers used in the production of paprika oleoresin significantly impacts the final product. Therefore, it is crucial to source high-quality, dried paprika peppers that are rich in pigments and essential oils. Suppliers who work directly with paprika farmers and growers can ensure the freshness and quality of the peppers used in the extraction process.

Chipotle Powder

Let's get into some history. Capsaicin was first extracted in 1816 by Christian Fridrich. Further work by John Clough Thresh led to its naming in 1876, but it wasn´t until 1898 that Karl Micko isolated the compound in pure crystalline form. A century later, in 1997, David Julius discovered and cloned the cellular receptor for capsaicin, and brought a new level of understanding on how capsaicin works. We´ll get more into this science in the second part of this blog.

I also would like to mention that there's a type of hot paprika popular in Europe: the Hungarian variety. It is also available in different coarseness and heat levels, so hot paprika is often called Hungarian paprika.

Don’t stop there! Feel free to get creative and use your homemade paprika seasoning in soups, stews or roasted meats.

Smoked paprika is paprika that's made from peppers that have been dried and smoked before grinding, and it has a distinctive smoked, charred aroma and flavor. 

If you don't have any paprika in the house, you can use any number of alternate spices, as long as you realize that the flavor of the final product won't taste the same as it would with the sweet paprika. Use nutmeg, cinnamon or cloves instead of paprika in a deviled egg or potato salad recipe. Replace the paprika in chili with mace, mustard, garlic powder or cumin, or use ground ginger or black pepper instead of paprika in your favorite fried rice recipe.