Oh yeah. I always use a pinch of baking soda in my tea. I think there is a difference. I can tell the times I forget the baking soda because of a tad of bitterness depending on the type of tea I use. If I use something like Lipton Ice Tea blend I don't think the bitterness is there but if I use a different blend like just normal tea I pick it up and the baking soda is necessary.