Garam masala is a ground blend of warming spices from the Indian subcontinent — its name means literally "hot spices" in Hindi-Urdu, though the heat refers to aromatic warmth rather than chilli burn. A typical mix layers cardamom, cinnamon, clove, cumin, coriander and black pepper into a sweet-pungent, deeply fragrant seasoning used across North Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi cooking.