Garam masala can be made from many different spices, but some of the most common are cinnamon, peppercorns, cardamom, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, cloves, mace, and nutmeg. To create your own blend, toast whole spices to bring out their flavor, then grind them.
Garam masala is an Indian spice blend. Garam means "hot" while masala means "spices," but it's not necessarily hot and spicy — the name refers to the warm flavors of its ingredients, such as cinnamon and cumin.
Garam masala is usually added toward the end of cooking so that it seasons the dish and adds its aroma.