Adding baking soda to the water is what will give your soft pretzels the soft and shiny crust. When you drop them in the water, it will cause the dough to puff and help to create that crust. It will also give the pretzels a beautiful color. Baking soda, is an alkaline which means it will cause the browning reaction to happen more rapidly. It also adds that distinctive flavor. So let's recap. Baking soda = chewiness, color, and flavor. In other words, don't skip the baking soda bath.