Paprika is ground from a handful of dried fruits and peppers such as sweet pepper, bell pepper, and hot chilies. What we know as “traditional paprika” — a milder, pungent, and lightly smoky spice — is ground from tomato peppers. Generally, paprika ranges between sweet, mild, and spicy hot. Sweet paprika is made from the pericarp or outer flesh of the fruit, while spicier versions include almost all of the fruit plant. Paprika is often thought of as a Hungarian spice, yet it actually originated in the New World (Mexico and North America) before making its way to Spain and beyond in the 16th century. This colorful spice is great for both garnishment and cooking, comes in multiple varieties, and has some incredibly powerful health benefits!