Vissinada (Greek Sour Cherry Syrup)

6 steps. Take it one step at a time.

1. 01

   Place the pitted sour cherries and water

   Place the pitted sour cherries and water in a large pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

2. 02

   Lower the heat and simmer

   Lower the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes until the cherries are soft and have released their color into the water.

   15 min
3. 03

   Add the sugar and the cinnamon stick

   Add the sugar and the cinnamon stick (if using). Stir well until the sugar is fully dissolved.

4. 04

   Simmer for another 15-20 minutes

   Simmer for another 15-20 minutes until the liquid thickens into a syrup. Skim off any foam that rises to the surface.

   20 min
5. 05

   Stir in the lemon juice and let it boil

   Stir in the lemon juice and let it boil for one more minute. Remove from heat and let cool.

   1 min
6. 06

   Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth

   Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into sterilized glass bottles. Store the leftover cherries separately for other uses.