Here’s a question we get pretty often at the shop, from Indians and non-Indians alike. What’s the difference between red chili powder, paprika, kashmiri chili, and the other half-dozen types of chili powder available in the store? 

Red Chili Powder

Red chili powder is finely ground from sun dried chili peppers, most often a blend of very hot, small chilis. This can be thai red chilis, Indian guntur, byadgi, or gunthur. This powder is to be used sparingly, in pinches, and the primary purpose of red chili powder in Indian cooking is to add spice to Indian dishes. It does provide a slight red color, but again, it’s meant to increase a sharp heat to the food.

Kashmiri Chili Powder

Kashmiri chili is a different type of chili than guntr, byadgi, gunthur, thai green, and even jalapeno. It has a unique taste to it, despite its heat. When dried and ground, it produces a similar distinct taste. Kashmiri chili has a unique enough taste that it cannot be substituted for red chili powder in Indian cooking. Kashmiri chili is also milder than traditional red chili powder. The main use of kashmiri chili in Indian cooking is to provide a specific taste.

Paprika

Paprika is more widely known, and can be found in basic grocery stores. Paprika is made of dried, ground sweet peppers, also known as bell peppers. It’s a more broadly used spice, likely due to its lack of sharp heat. Paprika is used in Indian cooking to provide a specific taste as well, just like kashmiri chili. Paprika is notable for its relative lack of spiciness in Indian food. It’s not at all unheard of to use paprika in Indian cooking, but cannot be used to substitute for red chili powder or kashmiri chili powder.

Chili Powder

Another widely known, western spice is Chili Powder, often used for things like barbeque, braising, or other western foods. It is not used in Indian cooking, nor is it available in our shop. There’s nothing wrong with it, but it’s important that chili powder not be confused for Indian red chili powder. Western chili powder can be made of a couple different things, including paprika, salt, garlic powder, and other spices. 

Deggi Mirch

Deggi mirch is a completely different type of Indian chili powder. It is not necessarily made of a specific chili. Deggi mirch is a blend of kashmiri chili and paprika powder. Different companies and brands have different blends of deggi mirch. The most popular brand of deggi mirch comes from MDH, and can easily be found in our shop. Deggi mirch is used in Indian cooking to provide a brilliant red color while also providing a good amount of heat to the dish.

Extra Hot Chili Powder

This is a fun one. Extra Hot Chili Powder is essentially the same as red chili powder, however the concentration and the source chilis are often far spicier than regular red chili powder. Extra Hot Red Chili powder can be used to substitute for red chili powder, but only if you like your food far spicier. Extra hot chili powder is often used in Indian cooking and can be found in our shop sitting right beside the regular red chili powder.

Why Red Chili Powder from other shops doesn’t taste the same

Red chili powder used in Indian cooking is very distinct, potent, and flavorful. You can certainly find bottles of red powder labeled ‘chili’ in a regular grocery store, but you’ll end up paying far more for far less. We’ve often found tiny 3.5oz bottles for twice the price of our 7oz red chili powder.

You can easily find all of these varieties of chili powder, and many different kinds of dried chilis and fresh chilis in-store or online!