It's also the case that some varieties of paprika are spicier than others. It's my understanding that "paprika" just means "pepper" in Hungarian, and the red powder that we call paprika in English can be prepared from red peppers of varying heat. In Israel, it's always specified on the packaging whether it's sweet paprika or spicy paprika, but to the best of my recollection and understanding what's sold simply as "paprika" in America is sweet paprika. It's quite likely that whatever Jonathan Harker ate was spicier than what your teacher made.