Hot sauce, in its most basic form, is a spicy condiment made from chili peppers. The origins of hot sauce date back to the ancient Aztecs, who believed in the medicinal value of chilies. They would mash up the chilies into a paste and mix it with water and other ingredients to create a rudimentary form of what we know today as hot sauce.
Paprika & Chili Products: A World of Flavors
Now, let’s say you don’t have any of these ingredients, your last resort would be to use black and white pepper to replicate the peppery and smoky kick that paprika offer. Chili flakes will also do in some recipes that use paprika as a garnish such as deviled eggs and potato salad.
Sweet paprika, also known as mild paprika, is made from sweet red peppers, such as bell peppers or other mild varieties. It has a vibrant red color and a mild, sweet flavor with little to no heat. Sweet paprika is often used to add color and a subtle, sweet flavor to dishes such as soups, stews, and deviled eggs. It is a popular ingredient in Hungarian and Spanish cuisines, where it is used in dishes like goulash and paella.
There are three different types of paprika; this spice is either sweet, or hot, or smoked. Understanding these three characteristics often help determine where a particular kind of paprika is from. “Regular” paprika tends to be sweeter, not really hot, and can be from California, Hungary, or South America. There are 8 different kinds of Hungarian paprika, and they can be sweet, hot, or pungent, and range in color from vibrant red to light brown. Spanish paprika is usually smoked, and can be mild or hot.

It's important to note that individual tolerance to spiciness can vary, so what one person finds extremely spicy, another person might find tolerable. When cooking with chili peppers, it's important to consider the heat level of the specific variety being used and adjust the amount accordingly to achieve the desired level of spiciness in a dish.