Color

Red paprika has a sweeter and milder flavor. It may be smoked, which will give it a different flavor altogether. Additionally, Hungarian sweet paprika is milder than Hungarian hot paprika. The hot variety can be hotter than jalapeno. Spanish paprika comes in mild, medium and hot variants.

The Scoville Scale was developed in 1912 by Wilbur Scoville, a pharmacist from the United States. To determine the SHU, an exact weight of hot pepper is dissolved in alcohol to extract the capsaicinoids components. These components are then diluted in a solution of sugar water and decreasing concentrations are given to a panel of trained tasters until a majority can no longer detect them in a diluted form. The heat level is then rated based on this dilution in multiples of 100 SHU. This system was initially purely organoleptic but nowadays is measured using HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) to prevent any deviation from sensory fatigue or the chosen panel´s resistance.

1 Hot sauce contains more ingredients than sriracha.  

Paprika and bell peppers are both members of the Capsicum annuum species. While they are closely related, they have distinct differences that set them apart.