[MonikaT]

I would just follow the directions on the box. Boiling water just takes longer to cool off and be drinkable. Heating water until little bubbles are forming on the bottom of the pot is probably hot enough. Steeping time determines the strength of the flavor. The only tea I know of that is affected by steeping too long is green tea which turns very bitter if it steeps more than 3-5 minutes because the polyphenols oxidize and turn bitter. You can also put the tea into the basket of a coffee maker and brew it that way.