Pairing Som Tum correctly — a note on Singha beer

Most people overlook how much the right drink changes Som Tum. I ordered it with Singha beer and the balanced between sweet, sour, salty, and spicy elements of the dish sharpened considerably against the pairing. galangal in particular became more prominent in a good way.

fresh herbs and aromatics are added at the last moment to preserve fragrance. The a beachside seafood spot is where you learn these pairings — they evolved together. If you've been having Som Tum with the wrong drink, try it correctly once. It's a genuinely different experience. The restaurant deserves credit for getting this right.