Sometimes you may find yourself missing a key spice in the middle of cooking. Don’t worry—there are several clever substitutions for common red pepper spices that can save your dish without sacrificing flavor. Remember, though, that when substituting spices, it’s good to start with a conservative amount and adjust to taste.
Yes, there are two main types of paprika: sweet paprika and hot paprika. Both types are made from dried and ground Capsicum annuum peppers, but they differ in flavor and heat level.
Chili peppers are used to make countless spice blends and seasonings, all around the world. From the fiery cayenne powder to kick up the heat to the sweet paprika for homemade stew.
But what is the difference when it comes to ingredients and flavor? Today, I’ll give an overview of the differences between paprika vs. chili powder vs. cayenne. I’ll share what exactly is in each of these spices, how they differ in flavor and heat, and how each is typically used. Let’s get into it!
This is my shortcut for salt-preserved chilies. I’m not really sure if it actually approximates salt-preserved chilies, but it does add really great spice and texture! Set aside and prepare the rest of your ingredients.

Air Drying
This is the first part of our blog series about capsaicin. Stay tuned to learn about how capsaicin works, why we love it so much, and how to help with a bad chilli burn.

Think of capsaicin as a powerful defence mechanism plants have developed to survive. The key about capsaicin is that it does not affect all species of animals or fungi. This is a brilliant evolutionary development that makes the existence of capsaicin twice as beneficial to the plant.
Today, hot sauce comes in a wide array of flavors, heat levels, and ingredients, varying greatly from region to region. For example, Louisiana-style hot sauces emphasize the tangy, sour taste of vinegar, while Asian hot sauces like Sriracha focus more on a balance between heat, sweetness, and garlic.
In addition to sourcing high-quality paprika peppers, it is important to work with suppliers who use safe and effective solvents for extracting the pigments and essential oils from the peppers. Ethanol and acetone are commonly used solvents in the extraction process, and suppliers should ensure that the solvents are properly distilled and purified to meet food safety standards.
2. Classification of bell peppers