Difference Between Regular Paprika & Hungarian Sweet Paprika

Paprika comes from the pods of Capsicum annuum peppers that are crushed to form a powdery spice. According to Thekitchn.com, paprika is the fourth most popular spice in the world. One of the major differences between regular paprika and Hungarian sweet paprika is the flavor.

Features

Most regular paprika is somewhat bland and is best suited for garnishing salads, deviled eggs and other foods.

Identification

Hungarian sweet paprika has a zesty, red pepper flavor with notes of sweetness.

Types

There are eight types of Hungarian paprika, but edesnemes is the most commonly sold version in the United States. Edesnemes means "noble sweet" in Hungarian and is mildly pungent with a bright red color.

Considerations

Regular paprika is easy to find in grocery stores, but Hungarian paprika is more likely to be in specialty cooking stores and gourmet markets.

Fun Fact

According to Thekitchn.com, paprika is the national spice of Hungary and is used prominently in Hungary's most famous dish, goulash.

References

• Thekitchn.com: What's the Difference? Paprika
• The Columbus Dispatch In the Kitchen: Paprikas