What are the differences between various types of paprika, and which have the most flavor?
I've tried various different brands of paprika but none seem to have any flavor.
Can anyone recommend a kind of paprika that is less bland? For example, I've seen certain "special" varieties such as Hungarian Paprika... how do these taste compared to the regular kind?
Best Answer
I don't know about brands, but there are six different types. Hot, Hungarian, Plain, Smoked, Spanish, Sweet.
Paprika releases its flavor with heat, but burns easily. So mix it in with liquid, and make sure it gets hot.
Sprinkled onto a cold dish (like deviled eggs), it remains quite bland. Add it to browned hamburger meat, and you're halfway to taco heaven.
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Are there different flavors of paprika?
Paprika varies in flavor based on what types of peppers are dried and pulverized. The spice can range from mild to spicy, a little sweet to 100% savory.What are the differences in paprika?
Some paprikas are hot and spicy, with predominant notes of fiery hot peppers. Others are sweet, with no heat and a mild flavor. The spice level of paprika is dependent on the flavorful carotenoids contained in the fresh peppers used for the powder, which can be measured by the scoville heat unit scale.Which paprika is best?
If you're thinking of purchasing new paprika, I'd recommend semi-sweet Hungarian, which has a balanced, bittersweet flavor, and hot piment\xf3n for more complex kick. Those two should cover most of your paprika needs.Is Spanish or Hungarian paprika better?
The biggest difference between Hungarian and Spanish paprika is that the latter is usually made from smokey paprika. Spanish paprika or piment\xf3n is ideal for people who prefer deep and smokey flavors. It's usually available in sweet, mild and hot variants.More answers regarding what are the differences between various types of paprika, and which have the most flavor?
Answer 2
If you find that the paprika or any spice you buy has very little flavor it can have more to do with age than the specific brand. If you don't use a spice frequently, then buy it in the smallest quantity you can find and use it up quickly. Bulk purchases of spice aren't less expensive if they sit on your shelf and lose flavor.
In my experience I usually describe Hungarian paprika as having a bit more of a slight tartness to it (basic sweet paprika, not spicy) and Spanish paprika has more of an earthy/woody/dusty flavor.
Ask a spaniard what they recommend and they'll say Spanish, ask a Hungarian and they'll of course be partial to their own. What I like very well may be different than your preference. The best thing to do is sample different ones side by side to see which you prefer and determine why.
Try Penzey's for high quality spices/herbs/seasonings. They sell in a broad range of packaging so you don't have to commit to a big container only to discover you don't like it. You may also want to visit the Spice House. They are separate branches of the same family and both do mail order.
Answer 3
As with most spices, especially once you are talking about varieties and the differences between them, it is difficult to speak directly to what each tastes like.
However, a good way of finding out the differences between spices like paprika is to "bloom" them, where you dry toast them in a skillet. i find one way of doing this and getting to enjoy they flavor immediately is by then following the toasting with a splash of olive oil and lightly toasting a bagel in the spices.
Answer 4
See my answer to this question here.
Answer 5
Well, if you can't get Paprika that would suit your flavor and if you happen to be a proprietor of some sort of a spice grinder - make your own paprika! Paprika is simply ground capsicums / chillies, so you can get dried chillies and grind them.
Personally, I grow my own chilies, dry them off and grind them - the outcome is so potent you could probably fuel a rocket with it :-)
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