Paprika is a spice made from ground, dried fruits of Capsicum annuum, either bell pepper or chili pepper varieties or mixtures thereof. The seasoning is used in many cuisines to add color and flavor to dishes, but it is usually associated with Hungary, Serbia, Spain, and Portugal, the latter two having introduced Capsicum annuum to the Old World from the Americas. It is also used in Turkey, Greece, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Morocco. A major area of production is around Kalocsa in Hungary. Although paprika is the symbol of Hungary's cuisine the plant was brought to the country by the Turks only in the 16-17th centuries. The use of this plant rapidly expanded from Iberia throughout Africa and Asia, and ultimately reached Central Europe through the Balkans, which were under Ottoman rule, explaining the Slavic origin of the modern English term. In Spanish, paprika has been known as pimenton since the 1500s, when it became a typical ingredient of the western region of Extremadura. Despite...