The origin of SomTum is not clear. Presumably, it was from Isan (North East of Thailand), and Laos. Originally, Sumtum is prepared from shredded unripe papaya, small tomatoes, round eggplants, dried or fresh peppers, green beans, and garlic flavored with palm sugar, or any kinds of sugar (no white cane sugar), fish sauce, and lime juice. Later when it is widespread in Siam, dried shrimps, peanuts, small preserved salted crabs, or cooked crabs are added. In Laotian eating culture, Padag, (similar to Thai Plara : fermented fish) is always used in their food.