GOOD TASTES.

WOLFGANG PUCK LATTES IN SELF-HEATING CANS: Los Angeles super chef Wolfgang Puck, who has had his name on a line of frappuccinos for the last few years, now has it on the label of a new line of lattes. Convenient, novel and unique, they are packaged in a container that heats itself - no microwave oven or other heating device needed.

WP Beverage Partners of Newport Beach teamed up with San Diego-based OnTech Delaware Inc., the creator of the self-heating containers - and since they were launched two months ago, the four latte flavors have been flying off market shelves. ``One million containers have been shipped to date,'' notes Bob Groux, CEO of WP Beverage Partners.

The self-heating container (with a safety cap to ensure the product is tamper-proof) is activated by pushing a plastic button on the bottom of the container (while resting on a flat surface). We found the label directions for this step a bit confusing the first time around: ``Using thumb, firmly push button downward until internal foil seal tears and colored water drains into the activation chamber.'' While you can hear a sound (sometimes) as the foil tears (you can't see any torn foil), you can't see the colored water drain into the activation chamber. It would have been more helpful if the directions had said ``until the light green water turns clear.''

After five seconds, turn the can right side up. The contents are heated (heat is produced by a natural reaction from mineral, calcium oxide and water) to 145 degrees F in six to eight minutes - a hot spot will turn from pink to white on the thermal ink label. Once hot, shake five to 10 seconds, then align opening, pull tab and drink right from the container (a bit unwieldy, we thought). The outside of the container will be warm to the touch and the beverage stays warm about 30 minutes and tepid for about an hour.

The OnTech container has three main parts - plastic outer cup, inner plastic cone and activating ``puck.'' The inner cone contains the mineral ``quicklime'' (calcium oxide) used in the heating process while the outer cup holds 10 ounces of the beverage. The puck that holds the water fits inside the cone.

Tasters were not enamored of the lattes. Many noted that the drinks had weird, chemical flavor overtones and aftertastes (probably because they contain the sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium), tasted like sweetened condensed milk, lacked coffee flavor and were not hot enough. The best of the lot was French Vanilla, followed by Rich Espresso. The Rich Mocha definitely needs more coffee and chocolate flavor.

We also thought the product was a lot of hassle for the end result - and the can is heavy, weighing 1 pound 2 ounces (for a 10-ounce latte). The instant-hot concept is great for a mobile society, but the food contents in this case leave something to be desired. Flavor improvements would be welcome. Most tasters agreed they wouldn't purchase them.

Look for the Wolfgang Puck Gourmet Lattes in four flavors - Rich Espresso, Rich Caramel, Rich Mocha and French Vanilla - in the coffee or beverage section at Ralphs Fresh Fare markets currently and other markets and convenience stores in the near future. Suggested retail price is $2.25 each or $8.99 for a four-pack.

In the near future, two flavors (Mocha and Espresso) with regular sugar will be added to the line, but they'll have 250 calories per 10 ounces instead of 100 for each flavor in the current collection.

Stay tuned for more to come (noncoffee products) in these containers with the Wolfgang Puck name. Soups, perhaps?

``The feedback has been unbelievably positive,'' says Groux, adding that from a convenience standpoint there is nothing better. ``I've been in the beverage business for my entire career, and you dream about a product like this,'' adds Groux. ``It's a beverage marketer's dream.''

OnTech plans to launch its own line of self-heating coffee products under the Hillside Coffee label on QVC and to market soups and hot chocolates with major food companies this fall. Hot cereal and baby formula may be coming in the future, too.

- Natalie Haughton

NEW PRODUCE PEELER: One of the newest innovations from Zyliss is a soft-skin peeler, an ergonomically angled gadget that ensures a smooth peeling motion without nicks and gouges. The red-colored peeler, designed to skin tomatoes, kiwi, pears, peaches, plums, ginger or other produce, has two serrated stainless steel blades (accommodating back-and-forth peeling) that pierce the fruit, removing skin, not flesh.

We tried it on tomatoes and it worked great - taking only a minuscule amount of the flesh with the skin. If you're just going to buy one peeler, this is a winner. The extra-sharp steel tip easily removes produce blemishes. Suggested retail is $6.99. Look for it at Bed, Bath & Beyond and Sur la Table stores or online at www.zylissusa.com.

- N.H.

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(1 -- 2) no caption (Wolfgang Puck's Lattes)

(3) no caption (Zyliss soft-skin peeler)