🌍 3 Main Types of Paprika (They’re Not Interchangeable!)
Type
Flavor Profile
Best Used In
Sweet Paprika (U.S. standard)
Mild, slightly sweet, earthy
Deviled eggs, potato salad, garnishes
Hungarian Paprika
Ranges from mild to spicy; rich, complex
Goulash, chicken paprikash, stews
Spanish Smoked Paprika (Pimentón)
Deeply smoky (peppers dried over oak fires)
Chorizo, paella, grilled meats, beans
✅ All are 100% ground peppers—nothing else.
🐛 So Where Did the “Bug” Myth Come From?
The confusion likely stems from two unrelated red food dyes:
Carmine (cochineal extract):
