Hungarian Paprika Powder

What is paprika?

Paprika powder is a flavourful spice made from dried and ground red peppers. It's a versatile seasoning beloved worldwide, perfect for adding vibrant colour and rich flavour to your dishes.

In Hungary, paprika is not just a spice; it is a cornerstone of our national cuisine, essential for preparing authentic versions of traditional dishes.

Is paprika spicy?

Paprika can vary in heat, ranging from sweet and mild to hot and fiery, depending on the type of pepper used. We offer various grades of Hungarian paprika, allowing you to choose the ideal type that suits your recipes and cooking preferences.

How to use paprika powder?

Paprika is a versatile pantry essential that infuses dishes with a rich ruby colour and intense flavour.

Sweet paprika is the primary seasoning for authentic goulash and is crucial in classic dishes like chicken paprikash and stews. You can also buy certified organic paprika.

Smoked paprika is created from peppers that have been smoked over fragrant beechwood, imparting a mouth-watering aroma. It's perfect for sprinkling over eggs, baked potatoes, or chips for a culinary twist.

Hot paprika is an excellent choice if you want to add some spice to your meals, as it delivers vibrant heat with fruity notes. Its complex flavour makes it a gourmet alternative to the sheer heat of chilli powder and cayenne pepper.

What is paprika good for?

Paprika powder offers various health benefits:

• It is rich in antioxidants, including carotenoids and vitamin C, which may help combat oxidative stress and support a healthy immune system.
• An excellent source of vitamin A, regular consumption may promote good vision and improve skin health.
• Its natural capsaicin content, especially in hotter varieties, may boost metabolism, support heart health, and naturally reduce inflammation.

Adding paprika powder to your meals is a simple way to enhance flavour while nourishing your body.

Is paprika the same as cayenne pepper or chilli powder?

No, paprika is not the same as cayenne pepper or chilli powder.

Cayenne is made from a specific type of hot chilli and is always spicy, whereas paprika can be mild or hot, depending on the peppers used.

Chilli powder, on the other hand, is usually a blend that includes chilli peppers along with other ingredients such as cumin, garlic, or oregano, while hot paprika is a single-ingredient spice.

What is the difference between Hungarian and Spanish Paprika?

Hungarian and Spanish paprika differ in flavour profiles and culinary traditions. Hungarian paprika is prized for its variety of styles. The hand-picked raw peppers are dried under the scorching sun of the Hungarian Great Plain. This unique drying process, combined with gentle stone milling, initiates the caramelisation of naturally occurring sugars, giving Hungarian sweet paprika its characteristic taste profile and setting it apart from others.

Spanish paprika, known as pimentón, often has a distinct smoky flavour due to the peppers being dried over oak wood fires. If you want to substitute regular Spanish paprika, smoked Hungarian paprika is the closest alternative.

While both add character to dishes, Hungarian paprika focuses on purity of flavour, allowing the natural fruity taste of the red peppers to shine, whereas Spanish paprika is more robust and emphasises smokiness.

Why is Hungarian paprika the best?

Hungary is renowned for producing the finest paprika in the world, cultivated in the famous Kalocsa and Szeged regions of the Hungarian Great Plain. The unique climate and soil in these areas produce peppers with unmatched intensity, earning them Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status.

Our authentic range of sweet, hot, smoked, and organic paprika powder is available under the Monika’s Kitchen label and comes directly from Rubin Paprika, the top Hungarian brand based in the heart of the Szeged region. They collaborate closely with local producers to source the finest peppers, combining decades of experience with the latest technologies to provide you with a premium-quality ingredient that deserves a place in your spice cupboard.

Our products have a distinguished history at the Great Taste Awards, receiving independent validation from some of the finest palates in the UK, including leading chefs and industry experts.

Premium Quality Paprika

The quality of paprika powder is primarily measured using the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) colour value system, which quantifies the intensity of the spice's red pigmentation. ASTA values typically range from 80 to 180, with higher numbers indicating more vibrant colour. Colour intensity directly correlates with the concentration of carotenoids, which give rise to paprika's characteristic hue and are a significant contributor to its flavour.

Our Hungarian paprika has a brilliant, deep red colour with an ASTA value between 170 and 180, which is among the highest available on the market. Finely ground to a uniform texture, it has the perfect balance of a sweet, fruity aroma with subtle earthy undertones and a rich, complex flavour. It comes in an airtight container, which protects it from light. The stand-up, re-sealable pouches for the 100g packs are a convenient way to store them in your spice cupboard, keeping them under ideal conditions to maintain their best appearance and flavour.

This contrasts sharply with many supermarket-bought alternatives, which can be brown or orange in colour, indicating oxidation or poor processing. A bitter flavour with harsh or acrid notes suggests poor drying methods or storage conditions, while a dull taste offers no added value to your recipes.

Buy Hungarian paprika online

Taste the difference for yourself that paprika with character can bring to your recipes and never look back.

Buy online in our store and shop with free next-day UK delivery on all orders over £60.