
In the vibrant palette of culinary spices, the color red takes a prominent spot—embodying both the allure and the promise of heat that can kick the flavor of any dish up a notch. Although these spices share a common color, their origins, taste profiles and uses in cooking are distinct, making each one an indispensable ingredient in its own right.
Curcumin has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a soothing compound. The recommended extreme daily doses range is from 3 mg/kg to 4-10 g/day. Since most studies using the extract have a time limit of 1-3 months, to date, there is no evidence of any long-term consequences from long-term use of curcumin. Although there have been no reports of serious adverse reactions to curcumin use, some side effects may include diarrhea, head pain, skin rashes, and yellow stools.
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.

Chili Pepper
Chili powder is a confusing spice. This is because the spelling often dictates what you’ll find on the ingredient list.