Tom Yum is a hot and sour Thai soup traditionally made with a fragrant broth of lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, chilli, and lime juice, often combined with prawns, chicken, or mushrooms. The distinctive sour and spicy flavour profile is what sets Tom Yum apart from other soups, and it’s considered one of the most recognisable dishes in Thai cuisine internationally. Getting the balance of sour, spicy, and aromatic herbs right takes genuine skill, which is why an authentically prepared Tom Yum tastes very different from a simplified version. It’s a dish worth trying if you want a true sense of traditional Thai flavours.