Paprika is a spice made from dried red peppers that are ground into a powder. Depending on what type of paprika it is, it'll be made from a different variety of red pepper. It has a sweet, pungent, earthy, and somewhat fruity flavor, and varying levels of heat, ranging from the most common very-mild type to the less popular pretty-hot. Good paprika should have a pronounced aroma that you'll notice when you take a whiff from the jar, and it needs to be thrown out after six months as it will lose its potency over time.

why use fresh red chillies

Red pepper flakes are hotter than paprika, so we recommend substituting ⅓ teaspoon of red pepper flakes for every 1 teaspoon of paprika. Add more to taste if you want more heat.