Help Identifying a Chinese Ingredient

I'm looking for some help in identifying an ingredient in a dipping sauce that my local Chinese restaurant serves. It's a sweet sauce with a base of apple sauce. I've been eating there for 35+ years, so when I asked how to make it, she gladly gave me the recipe, but did not know an english word for the final ingredient. She described it as a dark sauce and I believe she was trying to describe it as thick. She says that the Chinese used it to soothe a sore throat (I believe this is what she meant by rubbing her throat - perhaps they add it to hot tea or something) and she pronounced it as "Song-Jew-Yo". I asked if it was any of the following: soy, hoisin or ginger, and she said no. Now I'm thinking of some molasses type ingredient, but not sure I'm on the right track. She did write it in Chinese if that would help. She is an elderly Chinese lady and her English is pretty good considering; but I just couldn't figure this one out. Any help you can offer is much appreciated.