Organic Paprika Spice Standard - 55g Steenbergs details and description

Steenbergs Organic Paprika is a gorgeous sweet organic paprika from Spain with a deep red colour.  Made from aromatic red pepper pods, Steenbergs organic paprika is the traditional sweet spice with delicious flavour and vibrant colour. Organic paprika is one of the best spices from Mum's kitchen - just a sprinkle of Steenbergs organic paprika adds a flavourful and colourful touch to your meat.  For paprika, SHUs <400 and capsaicin <20mg/kg.  We have been buying our paprika from the same family run firm almost since we started, well over 15 years ago, for more information on our Spanish producer please head over to our blog.

Paprika is the name for a mild chilli powder that comes from various strains of Capsicum annuum, which also is the family for many of the hotter chillis.  Paprika plants have a wide variety of sizes and appearances, but all can be described as early maturing, erect shrubs, with single white flowers, oval leaves and non-woody stems.  Paprika pods or fruits can grow to 20cm long (8 inches) and be thin, or they can be small and round at 4cm in diameter.  Paprika pods can vary in colour from bright red to dark red-brown and are harvested when fully ripe.  Paprika pods are dried - they are piled up to commence the curing for about 24 hours, after which they are dried in the sun for 4-5 days.  Following the initial drying, the paprika pods are cut open and halved or quartered and dried further for about another week until completely dry.  They are then destalked, the seeds and veins separated, following which the fleshy walls of the paprika fruits are ground down and blended to give the right colour and flavour profile.  The bright colour comes from the amount of capsanthin present and the lack of capsaicin, which is the heat determinant in chilli.  Paprika is grown in most temperate climates but the most famous in Europe are Hungary and Spain, with Steenbergs sourcing its paprika from Spain and is locally called pimenton.  The flavour of paprika is warm and sweet, with pepper-like flavours.  For more on paprika, look at Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages or Wikipedia.

Paprika is popular in cooking for its colour and flavour, giving a luscious redness to sauces and all the peppery flavours of chilli pepper but with little or none of the burning heat.  While paprika is mandatory in Hungarian goulash or Spanish paella or Romesco sauce, it also works well rubbed into chicken, beef and veal, pork, rice and most vegetables.  For more inspiration, try Allrecipes and the BBC.

Organic paprika is part of Steenbergs range of over 400 organic spices, peppers, seasonings, herbs and flavoured sugars. For your local stockist follow the link, or call us on 01765 640 088 or email to enquiries@steenbergs.co.uk.

Steenbergs is a family run business based in North Yorkshire, UK and founders Sophie and Axel Steenberg are still at the heart of the UK's organic and ethical spice business.

spice - season -savour (sustainbly) with Steenbergs.