Piros Arany and Erős Pista seasonings are distinguished from similar products made in other paprika-producing countries by their unique colour and taste. 

The paprika used in these products is 100% domestically cultivated, and comes from the regions of Kalocsa and Szeged. 

The Univer General Consumption and Sales Cooperative canning factory in Hetényegyháza  (a district of Kecskemét) developed the recipe in 1967, and in the same year they began the production of the paprika cream under the imaginative name of Piros Arany (Red Gold). It was initially made from five types of pepper, in 80-gramme tubes.

Initially, the thick, spreadable cream was recommended for use in sandwiches and cold food, but it also proved to be suitable for flavouring soups, stews and other hot dishes. 

The product quickly became popular: in 1968, 400,000 tubes were sold; and just five years later - in 1973 - 6 million tubes were sold in Hungarian shops and to restaurants. In the meantime, Piros Arany also became entitled to use the emblem of the Excellent Goods Forum.

These days, two types of flavoured paprika cream are produced: the spicy version made with the addition of cherry peppers (Piros Arany csípős), and the mild version (Piros Arany csemege).

Erős Pista is the second most popular paprika product in Hungary, after Piros Arany. Its pungency value is roughly 1000 SHU (Scoville Heat Unit) on the Scoville scale.

More: 
hungarikum.hu

Proofread by language editor Marion Merrick / Now You See It, Now You Don’t  / Surprising Expats / Budapest Retro