Paprika is made from red peppers that have been dried and ground into a fine powder.

What paprika comes from

Paprika comes from varieties of the Capsicum annuum plant, the same species that includes bell peppers and many mild chili peppers. Producers typically use ripe red pepper pods, which are then dried and milled to create the spice.

What can vary in paprika

Different types of paprika (sweet, hot, smoked) are made by choosing different pepper varieties and processing methods. For example, smoked paprika is made from peppers that are dried over wood smoke before grinding, while hot paprika includes hotter pepper types or more seeds and internal parts.