Sweet Paprika Pavone: colour and aroma for professional kitchens
Pavone sweet paprika is a finely ground powder made from sweet red peppers (Capsicum annuum) grown in Spain, dried and milled to a vivid red, intensely aromatic spice with no heat at all. Packaged in a practical 500 g shaker and supplied in a case of 6, it is produced by F.lli Garuti, a historic Italian spice company active since 1955. It is the go-to spice for goulash, rice, stews, sauces, cured sausages and for finishing and garnishing dishes with colour.
What sweet paprika is
Paprika is obtained by drying and grinding ripe red peppers of the Capsicum annuum family. The peppers reached Europe after the discovery of the Americas and the spice became iconic in Hungarian cuisine, around Szeged and Kalocsa, and in Spain, in Extremadura and Murcia where it is linked to pimenton. In the sweet version the inner white pith is removed before drying, giving a fragrant, sweet and non-spicy profile. The result is a deep red powder prized as much for its colour as for its flavour.
Origin of the raw material
The peppers used for this paprika are of Spanish cultivation, from a country that together with Hungary is the world reference for quality paprika. Spanish growing areas produce sweet, aromatic peppers ideal for a balanced, sugar-rich powder that brings a warm red colour to any preparation.
The producer: F.lli Garuti and the Pavone brand
The Pavone brand was founded in 1955 by Marino Garuti, who began trading spices by hand-packing his products for local grocers. From the 1980s the second generation invested in automated packaging, and today the third generation runs a true spice-packing operation serving over 1,500 grocers and wholesalers. F.lli Garuti works with ISO 9001 quality management and FSC-certified packaging, combining the artisanal care of its origins with modern food-safety standards.
Sensory profile
Sweet paprika Pavone has a bright, deep red colour, a warm and slightly sweet aroma and a round, enveloping flavour with no pungency. The fine grind dissolves evenly into sauces and fats, releasing both colour and fat-soluble aromas. It is the colour workhorse of the professional spice rack, equally at home in long-simmered dishes and in raw finishing dustings.
Professional uses in the kitchen
- Hungarian goulash: the defining spice. Bloom it in fat with onions, then add meat and stock for a deep red, aromatic stew.
- Rice, stews and soups: stir in early in cooking to colour and flavour the base; classic in paella alongside saffron.
- Chorizo and cured sausages: the characteristic colour and aroma of Spanish-style sausages and many house sausage blends.
- Saute base and lard preparations: add to softened onions in oil or butter to build a fragrant, red-tinged foundation.
- Raw finishing: dust over deviled eggs, hummus, roast potatoes, grilled fish and shellfish for colour and aroma without heat.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Adding paprika over a direct high flame: the natural sugars scorch in seconds and turn bitter. Use moderate heat.
- Toasting it dry for too long: it burns far faster than whole spices. Bloom it briefly in fat instead.
- Storing it in light and heat: colour and aroma fade. Keep it cool, dark and tightly closed.
Pairings and complementary products
Sweet paprika pairs naturally with onion, garlic, cumin, oregano and chilli. In the LAPA range it works alongside crushed chilli, oregano, dried marjoram and thyme to build Mediterranean and central-European spice blends. For service and storage, pair it with a spice infuser sphere for measured dosing.
Delivery and logistics
B2B and B2C delivery throughout Switzerland from the LAPA warehouse in Embrach (Zurich). As a dry ambient spice no cold chain is required: direct distribution on Zurich, Winterthur, Uster, Schaffhausen, St. Gallen, Aargau, Bern and Basel, and shipping within 24-48 hours via partner couriers (Swiss Post PostPac, Planzer, Galliker) to Ticino (Lugano, Bellinzona, Mendrisio), French-speaking Switzerland (Geneva, Lausanne, Fribourg), Valais (Sion, Martigny) and Graubunden (Chur, Davos). Ideal for stock building by restaurants, pizzerias, hotels, delicatessens, butcheries, Italian grocery stores and private customers.
Who it is for
Designed for restaurants, pizzerias, hotels, caterers, delicatessens, butcheries and central kitchens that need a reliable, vivid, full-flavoured sweet paprika in a practical high-volume format, as well as for home cooks who want professional-grade Italian-packed spices.
