Chilled Beet and Cherry Summer Soup

Name: Chilled Beet and Cherry Summer Soup
Ingredients: 4 cups (950ml) tap water; 2 small beets, trimmed, peeled and finely chopped (8 ounces; 227g); 1 3-inch cinnamon stick; 1 star anise; 2 cups fresh sweet red cherries (10 ounces; 283g), pitted, divided; 1/2 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt use half as much by volume; Freshly ground black pepper; 3/4 cup sour cream or plain yogurt (6 ounces; 170g), at room temperature, plus more for garnish; 1/4 cup (60ml) fresh lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)