A New Paprika Import From Spain

There are many iterations of paprika. Some of the finest are from Spain, where it’s called pimentón and comes in degrees of heat and smokiness. Spanish paprika labeled Pimentón de la Vera, a name that has government protection, is from the La Vera Valley in rural Extremadura in Western Spain, where paprika-making is a centuries-old tradition. Now, that notably vibrant pimentón from the Gualtaminos Cooperative, a collection of small farmers, is available in the United States for the first time. The ruddy spice to speckle your deviled eggs, enliven potatoes and add pungent intrigue to chicken dishes comes in sweet, semisweet and hot varieties, all with a whiff of smoke: Gualtaminos Pimentón de la Vera, $3.95 for 2.65 ounces, Lucy’s Whey, 1417 Lexington Ave. (93rd Street), 212-289-8900, lucyswhey.com.