Michele Henderson didn’t think her honeymoon would lead her to become a chocolate designer and to a national competition.

Henderson, a graduate student in the department of communication studies at the University of Alabama, is currently in a competition over whose recipe will become Ghirardelli’s next dark chocolate offering.

“Bring Your Dark To Light,” a summer contest created by Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, accepted thousands of submissions for dark chocolate recipes. The contest’s website, newintensedark.com, said three chefs chose their top five flavors. Online voters would be able to choose their favorites.

Voters eliminated two of the top five flavors, Moonlight Fantasy and Spicy Pecan.

Henderson said her flavor, Tahitian Treasure, was inspired by her honeymoon in Tahiti.

“I thought dark chocolate, especially, is for times when you want to feel luxurious,” Henderson said. “The one place I felt the most luxurious in my life was on the island of Tahiti, during that magical honeymoon time.”

“I was surrounded by coconuts and pineapple and the sweet smells of luxury,” said Henderson. “It was just like the name: Tahitian Treasure.”

Should Tahitian Treasure earn the most votes, Henderson would win an all-expenses paid trip to San Francisco to take a tour of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory, according to a press release by UA News. Ghirardelli would also put the recipe into production in early 2011, according to the contest’s site.

Along with Tahitian Treasure, Cherry Bliss and Hazelnut Heaven are still in the competition for first place.

The site said the deadline for voting is Sept. 20 and the grand prize winner will be announced before the end of September.

For Henderson, not winning does not mean failure.

“After coming this far in the contest, I won’t necessarily feel like I’ve lost,” Henderson said. “But, if my flavor isn’t chosen to become the next Ghirardelli dark chocolate, I will continue on with my path to become to become a college professor and author.”

“Chocolate design is really just a hobby,” Henderson said. “But I do love gourmet cooking and baking.”

Henderson said her husband and his friends at The Tuscaloosa News have been critical to her success.

“They have helped me launch a great PR campaign, sending out press releases to all the local papers, urging people to vote on Facebook, helping me download pictures of the candy design and the support has been great,” Henderson said. “Alabamians love a winner.”

Henderson described her relationship with Ghirardelli as a very positive experience.

“I am really proud that I can be a part of such a great company like Ghirardelli, and I hope that relationship can continue even after the contest is over and they are hopefully creating my design for everybody to try,” Henderson said. “But I am equally proud of all my friends, family and people who love the flavor of great chocolate who keep voting for me every day.”