Pimentón de Murcia

Pimentón de Murcia is a sweet, unsmoked paprika produced exclusively from fully red Capsicum annuum L. 'Bola' or 'Americano' variety peppers grown and milled within a defined area centred on the Region of Murcia. The specification requires stone milling under the supervision of a master miller and prohibits artificial colourings and seeds from other pepper varieties.

About this designation

Registered as a PDO under file number PDO-ES-0113, with EU protection dating from 22 June 2000, Pimentón de Murcia is produced from completely red peppers of the genus Capsicum annuum L., 'Bola' or 'Americano' variety. The defined geographical area comprises the Region of Murcia together with specified municipalities in the provinces of Almería, Granada and Alicante, including Pulpí, Vélez Blanco and Vélez Rubio in Almería; Orce and Puebla de Don Fadrique in Granada; and Elche, Guardamar del Segura, Orihuela, Pilar de la Horadada and Torrevieja in Alicante. Both the cultivation of the raw material and the milling must take place within this area. The specification recognises two commercial categories: Extra, requiring a minimum colour of 120 ASTA units at the time of milling and a maximum humidity of 14 %; and Primera (Class I), requiring a minimum of 90 ASTA units and the same maximum humidity. Maximum capsaicin is set at 0.003 % for both categories. Edible vegetable oils may be added up to a maximum of 8 % of the dry product by mass. Milling and packaging must take place in close proximity and quickly. Each package intended for consumption must carry a numbered label or secondary label supplied in advance by the Consejo Regulador de la Denominación de Origen Protegida 'Pimentón de Murcia'. Labelling must state the commercial category and the drying method used, either 'Secado al sol' or 'Secado en secadero'.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PDO on 22 June 2000 under file number PDO-ES-0113; eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013566.
• The specification permits only Capsicum annuum L. 'Bola' or 'Americano' variety peppers; no other variety is permitted.
• Maximum capsaicin is set at 0.003 % for both commercial categories, confirming the product is entirely sweet.
• Each consumer package must carry a numbered label or secondary label issued in advance by the Consejo Regulador.

Tasting notes

Murcian sweet paprika DOP, sun-dried Bola variety, mill-ground. Distinctive bright red-orange powder, sweet aromatic flavor without smoke (vs. Vera DOP which is smoked), characteristic Spanish paprika profile.

HoReCa use

Foundation Spanish kitchen spice used in chorizo production, sofritos, paella, marinades, and paprika-based sauces, particularly where an unsmoked paprika is required.

Packaging

• glass-jar-75g
• glass-jar-200g
• tin-100g
• professional-bulk-1kg
• gift-pack-200g