Abstract: In the century following its introduction into Fangcheng, Henan Province, Robinia pseudoacacia became a good-to-eat food in the springtime due to its biological characteristics on the one hand and food shortage in the poverty stricken years on the other, obtaining its symbolic meaning through its connection with the rural society, local knowledge, historical memory and emotional projection. This case of symbol construction in current progress once again verifies that the good-to-eat and good-to-think-of aspects in food anthropology can be reconciled, and the cultural instinct to endow objects with localized meaning can eventually move the former towards the latter whilst the latter can promote the former in return. Therefore, the "should be" perspective on sinicization of food anthropology can also be presented.

Key words: food anthropology, symbol, reflection, flower of Robinia pseudoacacia, Fangcheng, Henan Province