Som tam is the spicy Thai salad made from shredded unripe green papaya.
The salad is prepared by pounding ingredients in a mortar, which explains the Thai name: som means “sour,” while tam means “pounded.” The papaya is combined with ingredients such as lime juice, bird’s-eye chili, fish sauce, palm sugar, garlic, tomatoes, and long beans. The result balances sour, spicy, salty, savory, and slightly sweet flavors.
Som tam is strongly associated with Thailand’s northeastern Isan region, where the population has deep Lao cultural connections. Similar salads are known in Laos as tam mak hoong or tam som, and the dish has spread throughout Thailand in many regional forms. Som tam Thai may include peanuts and dried shrimp, while Isan or Lao versions can use fermented fish or salted crab.
Recipes vary widely, so “som tam” does not always mean one identical plate. The defining combination for this quiz is the shredded unripe papaya and pounding method. Diners in Thailand commonly request adjustments to the chili, sweetness, and saltiness.