Photo by Cortex pb via Wikicommons

A striking red spice with a mildly sweet and smoky taste, paprika has long added fabulous flavor to cuisines worldwide. Now, a recent Data Bridge Market Research report indicates the paprika market will nearly double over the next few years.

Experts expect the popularity of this super spice to grow at an unprecedented rate over the coming decade. But what’s behind the surge, and what benefits does paprika hold for American consumers?

Seasoning Trends

The number of Americans who consume spices, in general, has increased massively over the past decade or so. Data from Statista shows 37 million more Americans use spices when making food than in 2011.

Nearly three-quarters of Americans (74%) believe the food they eat greatly impacts their overall mental and emotional well-being, according to the International Food Information Council’s 2024 Food and Health Survey.

Americans increasingly shun mass-processed food for natural, single-origin ingredients and take a more health-conscious approach to food.

Home cooking is on the rise, too. A 2022 Taste of Home study shows 60% of Americans make home-cooked meals at least five times a week, while consumers increasingly eat global cuisines.

The Health Benefits of Paprika

One of paprika’s most potent health benefits is its potential cancer-preventing effects. The smoky spice contains a variety of carotenoids that give paprika its wonderful red coloring, such as lutein and beta-carotene.

Researchers at AGH University of Science and Technology report carotenoids fight “oxidative stress, an essential contributor to the pathogenic processes of many diseases.” Another study demonstrates just how significant health concerns surrounding oxidative stress are and how it actively increases risks for certain types of cancer.

Another element of paprika, capsaicin, “strongly indicates significant anticancer benefits,” according to a 2016 study. Another recent analysis of capsaicin’s effects shows it helps prevent liver disease and can aid weight loss.

Moreover, paprika is high in vitamin E, which studies show has the potential to prevent cardiovascular diseases, and vitamin B6 boosts the brain and immune system. As if that wasn’t enough, paprika also contains high amounts of iron, essential for general energy, focus, and a healthy immune system.

How Is Paprika Made?

This super spice comprises dried sweet peppers, ground into a fine powder. The exact method varies, depending on where it’s made.

Paprika is most popular in Spanish and Hungarian cuisines. Each uses different peppers and its own traditional techniques to make this red-tinged spice.

Spanish Paprika

Many of the most well-known Spanish dishes use paprika as a key ingredient, from seafood like octopus and shrimp to the famous patatas bravas. Spanish paprika comes from special red peppers, slow-smoked over oak fires. Many believe Christopher Columbus brought this pepper, Pimentón de la Vera, back to Spain in 1493.

Hungarian Paprika

Made using a variety of Hungarian peppers, southern towns Szeged and Kalocsa produce most Hungarian paprika. Here, the sun is hotter, giving the peppers a sweeter taste and a deeper red tone.

The Turks introduced these peppers to Hungary in 1569. Up until the 1920s, Hungarian paprika was fiery hot. Nowadays, you’ll find a variety ranging from sweet and mild to hot. Hungarians love to use paprika in traditional dishes such as goulash, the deliciously comforting soup.

How To Use Paprika in Meals

Many Americans use paprika in Spanish or Hungarian dishes such as patatas bravas and goulash. But this affordable spice can bring extra flavor to many kinds of simple dishes like soups, stews, or even dips such as hummus.

Others are looking to international cuisines for the best way to use paprika. Elevate a classic Chinese sweet and sour chicken with just a couple of teaspoons of paprika, or add extra depth and slightly sweet smokiness to Mexican adobo sauce.

It’s not just traditional dishes that can benefit from paprika’s unique flavor and aroma. One of the latest viral TikTok recipes, chicken cobbler, can reach a whole new level with just a few sprinkles of this sublime spice.

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This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.