Didn't know this! re:Paprika

[elleng]

Paprika (US /pəˈprikə/, /pæˈprikə/ (listen);[1] UK /ˈpæprɪkə/, /pəˈpriːkə/[1]) is a spice made from dried and ground red peppers.[2] It is traditionally made from Capsicum annuum varietals in the Longum group, which also includes chili peppers, but the peppers used for paprika tend to be milder and have thinner flesh.[3][4] In some languages, but not English, the word paprika also refers to the plant and the fruit from which the spice is made, as well as to peppers in the Grossum group (e.g. bell peppers).[5][6]: 5, 73 

All capsicum varieties are descended from wild ancestors in North America, in particular Central Mexico, where they have been cultivated for centuries.[7] The peppers were subsequently introduced to the Old World, when peppers were brought to Spain in the 16th century. The seasoning is used to add color and flavor to many types of dishes in diverse cuisines.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paprika

[CrispyQ]

1. I love smoked paprika, hot or sweet.

It's one of my favorite spices.

[Snarkoleptic]

2. Interesting!

Essential sprinkle on dips and cheeses.

[pazzyanne]

5. And don't forget the potato salad!

My Mom always sprinkled paprika on top of a bowl of potato salad and so do I!

[yellowdogintexas]

8. and the deviled eggs nt

[pazzyanne]

16. Absolutely!!!

[The Polack MSgt]

3. How paprika made its way to Hungary must be a fascinating story

Spain to Hungary is only around 30% as far from Spain as Spain is from Mexico - But 16th century Europe wasn't exactly a free trade environment either.

[alfredo]

13. It could have crossed paths with Sumac, another red spice.

Sumac adds a lemony flavor.

[stopdiggin]

4. all descending from North America?

now, that did truly take me aback. I would have thought Asian food culture was thoroughly steeped in the hot pepper.

Could anybody perhaps tell us (me) when (historically) Thai food began to resemble molten lava? And - it couldn't have happened without capsicum.

Edit: a bit more from Brittanica

Peppers are native to tropical America and are particularly important in the cuisines of tropical Asia and equatorial America. Traces of pepper fruits have been found in prehistoric remains in Peru and Mexico, and the plants were widely grown in Central and South America by various pre-Columbian civilizations. Originally mistaken for a form of black pepper (Piper nigrum), the first pepper seeds were carried to Spain in 1493 and from there spread rapidly throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

[Retrograde]

6. Part of the Columbian exchange

wheat, beef cattle and pigs to the Americas (among other things), maize, tomatoes, peppers, squash, peanuts, pineapples, cashews, Phaseolus species (common beans), cassava, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and more to the rest of the world. The rest of the world got the better deal, IMHO.

[Retrograde]

7. To be fair, they've had 500 years to get used to them

Part of the Spanish trade to the Philippines, and from there to the rest of Asia. The book 1493 talks a lot about how plant foods migrated around Asia.

[Hamlette]

12. only in South Thailand do they make molten lava

spicy hot food is usually eaten in hot climates. To keep you cool. (You sweat, it evaporates, turning you into an evaporative air conditioner.)

Northern Thai food is mild.

[Jerryatric]

9. I only use Hungarian paprika. I seriously love it.

And I'm not sure if it's really necessary, but I read that one should always keep paprika in the refrigerator, so I do.

[sprinkleeninow]

14. As with red cayenne pepper.

[aggiesal]

10. Yum, on deviled eggs n/t

[Tetrachloride]

11. Paprika mix on French fries in my area

[PlutosHeart]

15. I love paprika also

but learned to be careful when buying it because of toxic metals and stuff in it so I only by organic.