The Return of Real Fruit Toppings

There was a time when a bottle of fruit topping meant something indulgent. A drizzle over ice cream on a hot summer night, a spoonful over pavlova at Christmas, or swirled through yoghurt for a breakfast that felt like a treat. Somewhere along the way, though, the magic got lost. What should have been fruit turned into fluorescent syrups with flavours no orchard ever grew, a triumph of colouring over character.

At Quincey Jones Jelly Preserves, we decided it was time to bring the romance back. Real fruit, handled with care, with all the brightness and texture left intact. Toppings that aren’t a guilty pleasure, but a celebration of the fruit itself.

Passionfruit Comes First

We began with the fruit that practically begs to be a topping: All-Natural Passionfruit. Tangy, tropical, unapologetically vibrant — the kind of fruit that turns a plain vanilla ice cream into something that belongs on a restaurant menu. We bottle it with nothing to hide: real pulp, real seeds, no additives. It’s as close as you can get to cracking open a fresh passionfruit, without needing to chase the seeds around the chopping board.

This topping has quickly become a favourite. Maybe because it feels familiar, like something your grandmother might have spooned over a sponge cake, yet at the same time fresh and modern. It’s a reminder that simple things, done well, never go out of style.

A Strawberry with Sparkle

Once passionfruit had found its place, strawberries weren’t far behind. But we wanted to do more than just another strawberry sauce. So we turned to a sparkling wine we’ve long admired — made by Coombe Yarra Valley, once home to the great Dame Nellie Melba. A nod to glamour, a touch of history, and a splash of fizz — suddenly, strawberries had their encore.

The result is our Sparkling Strawberry Fruit Topping. Ruby-red, full of fruit, and lifted by just enough sparkle to make dessert feel like a celebration. Pour it over a pavlova, swirl it through a trifle, or keep it simple with yoghurt and berries — it always feels like you’re adding a toast to the table.

Ideas for Everyday Glamour

• Drizzle passionfruit over ice cream, panna cotta, or a simple fruit salad
• Spoon sparkling strawberry over pavlova or cheesecake for a show-stopper (see pictured - and recipe here)
• Swirl either through yoghurt or bircher muesli for a breakfast worth lingering over
• Add a splash of strawberry to sparkling water (or more sparkling wine!) for a refreshing spritz
• Keep a bottle handy for quick entertaining — it turns the ordinary into something worth remembering

Made the QJJ Way

Both toppings are made in small batches in Echuca–Moama, with fruit grown under Australian skies. They’re gluten-free, vegan-friendly, and free from artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives. Just honest fruit, citrus, and a touch of imagination.

What Comes Next?

This is only the beginning. We’d love to know what you’d like to see in the range. Mango & Lime? Blueberry & Lemon Myrtle? Something more adventurous? Your ideas might just be the next bottle we bring to life.

For now, we invite you to taste the difference in our first releases — the All-Natural Passionfruit Fruit Topping and the Sparkling Strawberry Fruit Topping. They’re proof that when you respect fruit, the flavour speaks for itself.

Because life’s too short for fake toppings.