The use of capsaicin oleoresin extends beyond the culinary realm, as it is also utilized in various non-food applications. In the pharmaceutical industry, capsaicin oleoresin is used in topical creams and ointments for its potential analgesic properties, providing relief for muscle and joint discomfort. It is believed to work by desensitizing pain receptors in the skin, offering a warming sensation and temporary relief from minor aches and pains.

Your Culinary Adventure Awaits

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.

Best for stews, salsas, soups, chilies, and sauces.

Paprika is a spice made from dried red peppers that are ground into a powder. Depending on what type of paprika it is, it'll be made from a different variety of red pepper. It has a sweet, pungent, earthy, and somewhat fruity flavor, and varying levels of heat, ranging from the most common very-mild type to the less popular pretty-hot. Good paprika should have a pronounced aroma that you'll notice when you take a whiff from the jar, and it needs to be thrown out after six months as it will lose its potency over time.

In the vibrant palette of culinary spices, the color red takes a prominent spot—embodying both the allure and the promise of heat that can kick the flavor of any dish up a notch. Although these spices share a common color, their origins, taste profiles and uses in cooking are distinct, making each one an indispensable ingredient in its own right.

Spice Up Your Meals

what to eat with thai sweet chilli sauce

You deserve the best, so take some time to think about how a hot sauce is made and what kind of ingredients it contains before you dive in mouth-first. Some hot sauces are all-natural, while others contain all kinds of artificial flavors and additives. We believe that fresh always tastes better, so we recommend choosing the most natural hot sauce you can find. Also, keep in mind that some recipes contain ingredients like sugar, sodium, oils, or even animal by-products, so if you have a specialized diet take a careful look at the ingredient list and nutrition information before taking that first bite.

Where It All Began

1. Make sure your dried paprika peppers are super dry and crispy. They should break easily.

Curcumin has also been shown to have benefits for brain health. It can cross the blood-brain barrier and has been found to have neuroprotective properties, meaning it can help protect the brain from age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Tip: If you’d like to reduce the heat, slit them open and remove the seeds because the seeds have the most heat in them. Mince the chillies or put them in the food processor. However, don’t make it a very fine paste. Keep it chunky for texture.

However, its spiciness and heat level make it an excellent substitute for paprika powder. It's available in mild, moderately hot, and hot varieties, so you can easily replace any hot paprika variety in your recipe.