Somtum dish at a Thai restaurant in Sydney, NSW

Somtum dish at a Thai restaurant in Sydney, NSW in January 2020

Thai woman making somtum at the Rapid Creek market in Darwin, NT

Thai woman making somtum at the Rapid Creek market in Darwin, NT in March 2019

Sliced papaya for somtum at the Rapid Creek market in Darwin, NT

Sliced papaya for somtum at the Rapid Creek market in Darwin, NT in March 2019

Somtum dish in a Thai restaurant in Haymarket, Sydney

Somtum dish in a Thai restaurant in Haymarket, Sydney in September 2017

Somtum for lunch in Khorat, Thailand

Somtum for lunch in Khorat, Thailand in August 2017

Fruit for sale at the Night Market in Khon Kaen, Thailand

Fruit for sale at the Night Market in Khon Kaen, Thailand in May 2016

Papaya for breakfast in Khao Lak, Thailand

Papaya for breakfast in Khao Lak, Thailand in May 2016

Somtum dish in the Mall, Khorat, Thailand

Somtum dish in the Mall, Khorat, Thailand in June 2016

Som tum (papaya salad) dish in a restaurant in Loei, Thailand

Som tum (papaya salad) dish in a restaurant in Loei, Thailand in June 2016

Fon's somtum in the food hall in Don Muang airport in Bangkok, Thailand

Fon's somtum in the food hall in Don Muang airport in Bangkok, Thailand in May 2016

A papaya tree in Chiang Rai, Thailand

A papaya tree in Chiang Rai, Thailand in May 2016

Tree-ripened red papaya

Sign for tree ripened papaya at Fyshwick Fresh Fruit Markets, Canberra in November 2013

Preparing somtum

Ant making somtum in Canberra in November 2013

Thai somtum

Somtum in the kitchen in Canberra in January 2014

Isaan somtum

Som tum for dinner in Khorat, Thailand in February 2014

Somtum

Somtum (spicy papaya salad) in Canberra in March 2013

Som tam dish!

Somtam (Spicy papaya salad) dish in Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat), Thailand in June 2011

Somtum! ส้มตำ

Papaya salad (Somtum) for sale at the Siam Paragon shopping centre in Bangkok in June 2011

Ripe papaya

Pawpaw (papaya) for sale in Chiang Mai, Thailand in June 2011