Chisăliță with sour cherries

Honestly, I hadn't heard of this dessert until a few days ago, when I read about it on a culinary blog. I dug for information and learned that in the dictionary it is described as a plant decoction, while in the memories of many children, it is grandma's dessert made from sour fruits, the thought of which made them salivate until it was ready. Chisăliță is a traditional dish from the Baltic countries (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania), Northern Europe, as well as Poland, Ukraine, and Russia. It reached our parts primarily via the Russian route into Bukovina, from where it spread to Moldova and northern Transylvania. It is a compote made from sour fruits, thickened with cornmeal, which is served warm or cold. I made sour cherry chisăliță today, and the more I ate, the more I wanted 🥴. It is so delicious and very simple to make. I used 300 ml of water, 2 handfuls of sour cherries from which I didn't remove the pits, because they have their own charm, 3 tablespoons of sugar, lemon essence, 2 tablespoons of cornmeal, and a pinch of salt. First, I boiled the water with the sugar, and after it had been on the heat for about 10 minutes, I added the sour cherries. I let them boil until the water turned colored (about 10-15 minutes over medium heat). I dissolved the cornmeal in a little water and added it to the compote. I let it simmer for another 5-10 minutes over low heat. Finally, I added the salt and vanilla. It is so good!