Switching with this spice is pretty straightforward. Just use an equal amount of chipotle powder for every smoked paprika the recipe calls for. 

Bell peppers definitely have a less spicy flavor and heat level than the peppers used to make hot paprika. But I have tried bell pepper powder in many of my recipes, and it worked just fine.

Paprika is made from bell or chili peppers that have been finely ground two or more times without the veins and seeds, according to Katherine K. Schlosser, author of The Herb Society of America's Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking with Herbs. Because of that, you can swap sweet paprika for another pepper-based spice, such as cayenne or chili powder. Like using other types of paprika, these spices will lend your recipe a different flavor than you would get from the sweet paprika.

Paprika and bell peppers are generally considered safe for consumption and have a low risk of causing allergic reactions. However, individuals with a history of allergies to nightshade vegetables, such as tomatoes and eggplants, may be more susceptible to allergic reactions to paprika and bell peppers.

Pronounced as “gwaa-hee-oh“, guajillo is hotter than ancho chili powder and brings a spicy kick that ranges from 2,500 to 5,000 SHU. Apart from its spicy taste, this substitute has a lot more going on in flavor than cayenne. It is pleasingly sharp, tangy, and smoky just like paprika. That is why it’s also a good substitute for both hot and smoked paprika.

There is no easy answer to where paprika comes from. While paprika is closely associated with Hungary and Hungarian cuisine, paprika peppers did not arrive in that part of the world until the mid to late 16th century. The origin of all peppers can be traced to South America, where they grew wild and were distributed throughout South and Central America, mostly by birds. Eventually, peppers were cultivated, and native traders travelling through these regions carried them across the Caribbean as cargo in dugout canoes.