Tom yum or
tom yam is a family of hot and sour Thai soups. The strong hot and sour flavors make it very popular in Thai cuisine. The name "tom yam" is composed of two words in the Thai language. "Tom" refers to the boiling process, while "Yam" means
mixed.
Historian Giles Milton contends that the origins of "Tom Yum" can be traced back to India, where there is a variation of hot and sour shrimp soup known as "sour prawn soup". In Thailand, Tom Yam is available in various types, with the most popular being "Tom Yam Nam Khon", or Creamy Tom Yam Soup, and "Tom Yam Nam Sai", or Clear Tom Yam Soup. This soup features a variety of main ingredients, including shrimp, pork, chicken, and seafood.