Som Tum - How Many Chillies

[dantilley]

Was just wondering how spicy you guys like your som tums. I think I've built up a pretty good chilli tolerance now, and I usually ask for about 12 chillies which often causes a few raised eyebrows when the vendor hears a farrang asking for that amount!

My girlfriend, though, is in a differnt league: she asks for 20 on most occasions and then scoffs the whole lot without breaking a sweat.

Anyone else?

Edited August 24, 2005 by dantilley

[Jockstar]

I never ask for any amount of chillies. I just tell them i love spicey. No need to count the chillies. Just give it to me the way the Thais eat it. BTW i Eat more spicy than my missus and some Thai friends.

[mike_l]

I've been trying to build up chilli tolerance, but I'm not very good at it - so only 2 or 3 for me. Still, it's an improvement over the 1 it used to be! My Thai friends like to tease me even a 'dek anubaan' can eat spicer than that

[ilyushin]

Usually ask "sap, sap" depending on the type of Som Tum. Som Tum Thai 6-10 chillies is fine. With fermented fish ( bla dak) or pickled black crab (boo dum ) 10 plus will work. Som Tum ( Dum Sum ) is great when it is so hot you can't stop eating it. Great with icy cold beer!

[chownah]

If you take more than 10 chilis in a single portion of som tam does this mean that the taste buds that react to chilis are defective? Can you taste the other ingredients in the som tam if they put in 10 chilis? I can't. After about 5 chilis I can't taste anything but the chili...so whats the point. I'm guessing that some people think if they eat lots of chilis that it means that they are better...that their tab is longer or their slot is tighter....I don't understand....can someone please explain it to me....what is the fixation? Should we start a topic of how many prawns do you like in your Tom Yam Gung? Probably be pretty boring. Why do people like to talk about how many chilis they can eat...or how much alcohol they can drink.....why don't we have a topic and talk about how long you can sit and meditate....or how long you can stand on one leg? I don't understand.

[Neeranam]

If you take more than 10 chilis in a single portion of som tam does this mean that the taste buds that react to chilis are defective? Can you taste the other ingredients in the som tam if they put in 10 chilis? I can't. After about 5 chilis I can't taste anything but the chili...so whats the point. I'm guessing that some people think if they eat lots of chilis that it means that they are better...that their tab is longer or their slot is tighter....I don't understand....can someone please explain it to me....what is the fixation? Should we start a topic of how many prawns do you like in your Tom Yam Gung? Probably be pretty boring. Why do people like to talk about how many chilis they can eat...or how much alcohol they can drink.....why don't we have a topic and talk about how long you can sit and meditate....or how long you can stand on one leg? I don't understand.

I hear you chownah!

Bloody ridiculous.

I like 3 chillis in my somtam.

[Jomtienwow]

I just say phet phet, and if they take me seriously I will be having a good cry.

[BambinA]

i vote for 1-5 , i can only eat 2 Pricks in 1 time ....opps i mean chilli

Bambi (mai kin phet)

[Totster]

4 - 5 chillies... but only if I've been eating it regulary for a while...

When I go back in October I'll start off Mai Pet..

hag tam mak hung lai lai ...

totster

Edited August 24, 2005 by Totster

[Neeranam]

vote for 1-5 , i can only eat 2 Pricks in 1 time ....opps i mean chilli 

Bambi (mai kin phet) 

[meadish_sweetball]

4-5 for me as well, although I could technically eat more - it IS a matter of tolerance which can be built up with time, but why would you want to push it except for being macho?

Like somebody said, what's the bloody point in chucking in 20 chillies, except if you have grown an addiction to quick bowel motions, want to develop an ulcer or like the feeling of a stinging bum when your off to the dunny the following day?

[dantilley]

If you take more than 10 chilis in a single portion of som tam does this mean that the taste buds that react to chilis are defective?  Can you taste the other ingredients in the som tam if they put in 10 chilis?  I can't.  After about 5 chilis I can't taste anything but the chili...so whats the point.  I'm guessing that some people think if they eat lots of chilis that it means that they are better...that their tab is longer or their slot is tighter....I don't understand....can someone please explain it to me....what is the fixation?  Should we start a topic of how many prawns do you like in your Tom Yam Gung?  Probably be pretty boring.  Why do people like to talk about how many chilis they can eat...or how much alcohol they can drink.....why don't we have a topic and talk about how long you can sit and meditate....or how long you can stand on one leg?  I don't understand.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, a tolerance to chillies does build up over time. The more exposure your taste buds get to chillies, the more it takes to get that same spicy effect: one person who doesn't east spicy food too much may get a spicy taste from 5 chillies, but for another more hardened chilli eater, it may take 10 chillies to get that same effect.

I didn't post the question to see who is better - I don't equate chilli eating with being macho or special, I just think it's an interesting talking point to see how different people like to have their som tum's made. If you think it would be interesting to see how many prawns people put in tom yam gung (although, I must admit, I've never been asked by a food vendor to specify to amount of prawns they should put in a tom yam gung when I've ordered one), or how long people can stand on one leg then, sure, post another message.

[tutsiwarrior]

I had som tam from a vendor at Jomtien Beach that was made from mangoes that tasted like it had no chillis (not a whiff of nam pla either)...

tasted good...

[dantilley]

I had som tam from a vendor at Jomtien Beach that was made from mangoes that tasted like it had no chillis (not a whiff of nam pla either)...

tasted good...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've had that before in Chiang Mai too - very nice.

[Neeranam]

or how long people can stand on one leg then, sure, post another message.

There was a guy in India who stood on one leg for 7 years

Sorry, off topic.

I think my wife is addicted to chilis, really.

When we have been abroad on holidays she has had withdrawals, usually anger(ngut ngit).

[Khutan]

A friend of mine lived a long time in Srisaket. He orders 30 Chillies in his Som-Tum. Me I can stand the stuff, mashing bits of crab, pappaya and fish sauce - yuck

[dantilley]

A friend of mine lived a long time in Srisaket. He orders 30 Chillies in his Som-Tum. Me I can stand the stuff, mashing bits of crab, pappaya and fish sauce - yuck 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nice Avatar.

[chonabot]

I'm a macho guy who likes about 15-20 mouse turds in my somtam. TBH everyone has diferent tastes and reactions to chillis , if you put 5 chillis in my Tam it does taste mild , sorry but that's my problem.

[Jockstar]

Cant believe that people count their chillies.

[Totster]

Cant believe that people count their chillies.  

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have too... to many chillies could be disastrous..

It's the same as counting / weighing any ingrediants for food..

totster

[Jockstar]

Cant believe that people count their chillies.  

Have too... to many chillies could be disastrous..

It's the same as counting / weighing any ingrediants for food..

totster

I've never asked someone to put X amount of chillies in my food. If i'm cooking i know about a handfull will do. Again i dont count them.

[chonabot]

Cant believe that people count their chillies.  

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have too... to many chillies could be disastrous..

It's the same as counting / weighing any ingrediants for food..

totster

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've never asked someone to put X amount of chillies in my food. If i'm cooking i know about a handfull will do. Again i dont count them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Depends on the hand/shovel size ........

[Totster]

Cant believe that people count their chillies.  

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have too... to many chillies could be disastrous..

It's the same as counting / weighing any ingrediants for food..

totster

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've never asked someone to put X amount of chillies in my food. If i'm cooking i know about a handfull will do. Again i dont count them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Depends on the hand/shovel size ........

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well.. my wife always counts them into the mortar (krok)...and likewise if I'm helping, tells me how many to put in... even how many cloves of garlic too..

totster

[BambinA]

im not fancy much in too spicy food ... i accept ,a lil of spicy food is yummy and promote the appettite

but i'd be " sabuy pak, lumbak tood" สบายปาก ลำบากตูด(make a pleasure in mouth , but feel terrible at @rse)

BTW when i order SomTum, i always tell the seller that " prick 2 med na ka"

yes i count it

Bambi

Edited August 26, 2005 by BambinA

[Totster]

(make a  pleasure in mouth ,  but feel terrible at @rse)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I really have got a dirty mind...

totster the pervert

[Neeranam]

" sabuy pak, lumbak tood" สบายปาก ลำบากตูด

[chownah]

Yes, a tolerance to chillies does build up over time. The more exposure your taste buds get to chillies, the more it takes to get that same spicy effect: one person who doesn't east spicy food too much may get a spicy taste from 5 chillies, but for another more hardened chilli eater, it may take 10 chillies to get that same effect.

...................

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interesting. If you stop eating so many chillies....kick the habit, so to speak....does the tolerance level go down and then fewer chillies are required to give an acceptable level of satisfaction?

[dantilley]

Interesting.  If you stop eating so many chillies....kick the habit, so to speak....does the tolerance level go down and then fewer chillies are required to give an acceptable level of satisfaction?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, that's right - I guess if you went for, say, 6 months without eating any chillies at all then it would be like starting all over again when you had your next spicy meal.

It's funny you should say "kick the habit" though because it's thought that chillies are actually mildly addictive! I must admit, I have had spciy food before that for some reason, despite being almost painfully spicy, I just can't stop eating.

[meadish_sweetball]

Two months in Sweden made my taste buds 'come alive' again.

[chownah]

Two months in Sweden made my taste buds 'come alive' again.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When you say your taste buds 'come alive' does this mean that eating alot of chillies inhibits your taste buds from tasting all tastes?...or does it just reduce your ability to taste spicyness?