Paprika is a bright red ground spice made from peppers. These may include sweet, mild red pepper, hot chili pepper, cayenne pepper, poblano pepper, and Aleppo pepper. Since different types of pepper can be used to prepare this spice, the heating level can be different. But most people describe the taste of paprika as smoky, slightly sweet. Because of its distinctive color, pepper is also often used as a side dish to foods such as stuffed eggs or potato dishes.