Tam is a method similar to yam by mixing all the ingredients in a mortar and lightly pounding with a pestle. Tam khanun (banun), tam makham (bakham or tamarind) uses such basic ingredients as salt, garlic, shallots, fresh or dried chilies, shrimp paste, dried soybeans, cooked fermented fish. (Rattana Phromphichai, 1999, p. 2406; Prathum Unsi, personal communication, June 25, 2007)�
Yam is usually made with cooked meat or vegetables like yam chinkai is made from boiled chicken, yam phak hueat (from steamed tender top of a plant by that name), yam chin haeng (boiled dried beef) mixed well with spicy sauce with a little boiled water. �(Rattana Phromphichai, 1999, p. 5515; Sirawit Chamrat, personal communication, April 20, 2007)