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It’s thought that paprika was introduced to Hungary sometime before 1550 and was first adopted by shepherds and fishermen, who found paprika to be a welcome, and spicy, addition to their more humble foods. The plants, with their pretty white flowers and vibrant red pods, were at first used decoratively in more aristocratic circles but by 1569 were being written about in reference to edible agriculture. 

Another entry on my list that you might not be expecting is liquid hot sauce because, again, the texture is different. But when it comes to heat and color, any liquid hot sauce is a good substitute for paprika.

Like many spices, cayenne and paprika may offer a range of health benefits. Both are loaded with nutrients and may have other healing qualities, too. And if you are wondering, is it worth buying organic spices— in order to have the highest quality and healthiest spices, it just might be.

- Paprika extract is typically obtained through a water-based extraction process, where the color and flavor components of paprika are extracted using water as a solvent. This method often yields a product with a lower concentration of the active compounds found in paprika.