Paprika

• Paprika is a sweet red pepper powder often found in various seasonings including those for Mexican dishes. It adds an intense red or red-orange coloring to food and is one of the basic ingredients in homemade taco seasoning. The flavor of paprika varies depending on the type of paprika you use, ranging from sweet to hot. It is available for purchase year-round and typically comes from South America, California, Hungary or Spain.
  
  

Cumin

• Cumin is a small ridged seed available dried or as a powder, and is a common ingredient in Mexican dishes. When using as an ingredient in homemade taco seasoning, powdered or ground cumin is the option to choose. It has a strong scent and a slightly bitter and pungent flavor. Avoid adding large amounts of cumin, as its flavor is intense and will overpower the taste of the other ingredients in your recipe.
  
  

Oregano

• Oregano is an herb used to add flavor to Mexican foods. There are two basic types of oregano; Italian and Mexican. Although either is suitable for use in taco seasoning, the Mexican oregano imparts a more intense flavor. The dried or powdered oregano are more suitable for use in taco seasoning than the fresh cut.
  
  

Black and Crushed Red Pepper

• Crushed red pepper and black pepper are both used to increase the spiciness of taco seasoning. Their inclusion as an ingredient depends on the recipe you follow and they are adjustable to suit your personal preferences and tolerance levels. When adding crushed peppers to your seasoning mix, add it conservatively as it will increase in heat and may quickly make the mix overly hot.
  
  

Onion and Garlic Powder

• Onion powder adds the taste of onion to your taco seasoning without the bulk of chopped or minced onions. It is made of dehydrated, not fresh onions, which results in a flavor that is less sweet and flavorful as its natural state. Garlic is another powder that adds flavor to homemade seasonings. It is the product of dehydrated garlic cloves that are ground into a powder. When added to your other ingredients, it enhances the taste by adding garlic flavor.
  
  

Chili Powder

• Chili powder is a powdered blend of dry powdered red chili pepper, cumin, oregano and garlic powder. When buying chili powder from Mexico or Mexican food stores, it comes as only powdered red pepper, as opposed to the blend sold domestically. The flavor ranges from mild to spicy hot and depends on the quality and type of pepper used.
  
  

Salt

• Salt is an ingredient found in nearly all basic homemade taco seasoning mixes. Adding salt to your mix helps to enhance the other flavors present.