Sweet paprika, also known as mild paprika, is made from sweet red peppers, such as bell peppers, and is known for its vibrant red color and mild, sweet flavor with little to no heat. It is often used to add color and a subtle, sweet flavor to dishes without adding spiciness. Sweet paprika is a common ingredient in dishes like deviled eggs, potato salad, and Hungarian goulash.
In a nutshell: capsaicin is a lipophilic compound that can be found in different concentrations in peppers that are described as hot, such as Habanero, Jalapeño, and Scorpion. It is a compound that produces a burning sensation in any tissue it comes into contact with. So, the more capsaicin in the pepper, the more the heat gets turned up.
Paprika can range from mild to hot – the flavor also varies from country to country – but almost all plants grown produce the sweet variety. Sweet paprika is mostly composed of the pericarp, with more than half of the seeds removed, whereas hot paprika contains some seeds, stalks, ovules, and calyces. The red, orange or yellow color of paprika is due to its content of carotenoids.